"Once upon a time, in a past future" "You know I shouldn't even be here." "And that's why you are here, doctor." "Legally speaking I'm no longer a doctor." "Does that matter?" "Now?" "Not much." "So?" "Do you accept?" "For me?" "For old time's sake?" "Are You aware my experiences were not safe enough?" "You're quite aware my license was revoked due to  due to an accident." "Not exactly dead mice, right?" "It was... it was..." "I read the papers." "I know what happened." "C'mon." "Confess..." "Deep down you did all this just to see me again, right?" "No!" "OK." "OK." "You're in a sensitive mood." "Fine." "So...?" "What proof do you need for the operation?" "Some other guinea pig?" "A human one, I mean." "I thought you were the guinea pig." "Take a look at me." "Do I look like an idiot?" "If not you...?" " I'll get someone." " "Get"?" "You don't have to worry about it." "I mean... where I'll get this you get me." "You always did." "I really enjoyed your book." "Congratulations for the best-selling lists." "You got what you always wanted, right?" "I didn't get you." "Until now." "You called me for another reason." "Exactly." "All right." "OK." "I'll do it." "Are you sure you'll get this guin...this person?" "Of course!" "What do you want me to say?" "Stick an ad in the classifieds and some poor soul will appear." "They always do." "Good evening." "And you are...?" "Cristi Costa." "What are you going to sing?" "I don't remember like..." "the title of this song but I really like it." "And it's about love." "Cute." "It really is." "You may begin." "The book industry has found a new Era." "Shelves are taken by this thriller by Bruna Bloch" "Her novel "Where the Dead Eat", reached #1 in the top sellers list." "Only three weeks after the release" "Not bad for her first novel." "Bruna, good evening." "Good evening, Bruna." "Good evening." ""Melpomene"" "The Greek Muse of Tragedy." "Mother of Mermaids." "She was summoned to inspire the creation of fine lyrical poems." "To understand human creativity." "This is the focus of this research." "Everyone wants to know how did you do all this with your first novel" "That is inaccurate." "This is not my first novel." "This is just the first one with a major publisher." "This is not the result of luck." "This is the result of years of hard work" "Creative people knowingly operate in three levels." "High levels of knowledge;" "Ability to create diverse thoughts using the frontal lobe;" "And the balanced use between the frontal lobe and the nervous system." "The origin for this modulation lies on the controversial Cranial Nerve Zero." "Many of you do not believe in the existence of the Nerve Zero." "But I assure you it's there." "Readers are baffled by the originality of your novel's plot." "How did you get this idea?" "I can't answer that." "Inspiration." "That's all I can say." "How are you dealing with your success?" "As naturally as I can." "It might well end tomorrow." "And if it does?" "I'll work my way back." "Only work?" "What about inspiration?" "I work to find it." "Where do you do that?" "You read my novel, right?" "It's the sewers." "Rotten spots." "Not just the city's but also in the human mind." "I stroll around this labyrinth." "Does that mean you're a murderous hobbyist?" "What sort of question is that?" "One with an interrogation mark." ""An ellipsis" seems to be your choice." "You are certainly referring to my time in jail." "Go on." "That's no secret." "It's also no secret that I was declared innocent." "The morgue report stated it was 'auto-erotic asphyxiation'." "Is that still inspiring?" "It is part of my life." "I cannot deny that." "High dopamine levels... elevate excitement and reduce creativity inhibition." "Dopamine is regulated between the frontal lobe and the nervous system ." "Precise combination of these impulses are a bridge to creativity." "We eat when we're hungry." "We sleep when we're tired." "But we do not know what to do when we need creative inspiration." "We then created a dopamine inducing chip." "The Melpomene Chip." "How did success change your life?" "Your name is constantly on front pages." "Specially after you attended a fashion show along with Sonny Eichinger." "That was a one time only." "These magazines exaggerate." "But your life changed." "No doubt about it." "Of course." "Money changes everything." "This gig means more and more work." "Nobody doubts that." "Well, except for literary critic Eduardo Graniti." "It is a fresh yet simplistic oeuvre." "Typical for a young pretentious author." "There is a certain inventiveness." "I have seen this before many times." "Books leave the best sellers list as fast as they enter them." "Do you mind his review?" "No." "Not at all." "It's just one opinion." "I'll keep writing better and better." "I'll stay on the Best Sellers list for sure." "You'd better get used to it." "We tested the Melpomene... on the ramifications of the so called Cranial Nerve Zero." "We catalogued the following reactions on lab mice:" "One..." "The chip induced dopamine surges are 100% effective on the growth of..." "You understand our job, right?" "I guess so." "So you understand we have seen around 100 candidates only today." "Sure." "I should be used to this by now, but you have really surprised me." "Thanks." "No." "I thank you for this marvelous gift." "The worst performance ever in this show's six seasons!" "The chip was able to regulate all basic body functions." "No sleep or food needed." "Therefore the Melpomene makes beings who can create 24 hours a day," "And for an indeterminate life span." "You look like a Care Bear on stage." "Your voice is ridiculous." "Do you even know what music notes are?" " Don't exaggerate!" " I do not!" "Give me an A and a B." "Oh, dear." "Since the chip controls the body, you must remove the heart..." "Yes!" "You must remove it!" "thus avoiding a blood counterflow to the brain which could result in cranial explosion." "After the dopamine stimulation, you HAVE to give way to the over cognition." "otherwise we'll have overheating which also results in explosion." "The explosion is equal to the power of a grenade." "So you better protect yourself." "Look Cristi... you do have problems and you will not pass to our next stage." "Meaning the 'next stage of life'." "Allow me." "It's my turn now." "Do you..." "Do you really want to be a singer?" "It's what I want the most." "Even so." "If you want your own voice, you need study," "You're lacking... how can I put this?" "Everything." "No!" "You need a certain malice." "Something evil in a good way, right?" "We look forward to testing the chip on human subjects." "Therefore I come upon this noble council to ask you to authorize me to do the procedure here described." "You could try something else." "Maybe you have talent for acting." "She doesn't have talent for existing." "She needs to learn." "That's why we are here." " Dear Care Bear..." " Her name is Cristi." "Whatever." "Try something else and scram." "After three months of trials," "Dr. Bartholomeu Bava was declared innocent." "The neurobiologist was known for his controversial experiments in creativity." "He had already been expelled from the Medical Council after performing forbidden experiments with human beings." "In a non-authorized procedure, Barbara Bava, ...Bava's wife, died after implanting a chip developed by Dr. Bava." "And now, stay tuned for the "Reading Focus" show..." "Hello?" "Who?" "If I want eternal life and endless creative abilities... all I need is this chip on this Cranial Nerve Zero?" "Why didn't you come here sooner, Bart?" "You know I shouldn't even be here." "CRANIAL NERVE ZERO" ""..." "Looking for participant in a neurobiological experiment..."" "Yes?" "Hi!" "I came ... here... because..." "the newspaper..." "I saw..." "Classifieds ad." "Yeah..." "Yeah..." "Yeah..." "Yeah." "Yeah..." "Yeah." "Come in." "Thanks." "Cup of tea?" "A water." "A 'glass of water', you mean." "What?" "You don't measure the word 'water'." "The right way to write..." "I mean, 'say' ... is 'a glass of water'." "I don't want anything then." "Sit." "Can I just stand up?" "If you don't mind me here." "Nope." "So you came here because of the ad." "I didn't get what am I supposed to do." " When did you move to the city?" " What?" "You left your country town, running away from your parents..." "No from your hyper-religious foster parents..." "When?" "One, two years ago?" "Wow." "How do you know that?" "Your accent gives you away," "Your physique is of a farm worker, yet your face does not comply with the standards of local immigrants," "Therefore: foster child." "Understood?" "Now answer me." "Almost two years already." "And you came to the big city after fame and success?" "Oh... you saw me on TV." "I avoid watching TV." "Don't you remember me?" "Should I?" "No." "It's just that..." "I was on TV once." "I can imagine..." "Talent show or something?" "How cute." "What did you do after that?" "Whatever I could." "Prostitution?" "God forbid, I would never do that." "Yes, you would." "You're here." "Is this job for that job?" "No." "No." "It came out wrong." "So what did you do after the TV thing?" "Waitress?" "Assistant in a beauty salon?" "Video producer?" "Wow." "Are you psychic?" "Do you do that Ouija stuff?" "No." "Of course not." "It's part of my job." "I'm a writer, so I need to know mankind." "It does not have many variations." "Obvious conclusions." "'obvious'" " Could you explain what I...?" " Are you afraid of dying?" "Is that part of the job?" "I would be a lot happier if we could save some time." "All we need is you refraining yourself from questions and focusing on responses" "I don't get it." "I ask the questions." "Understood?" "So?" "Are you afraid of dying?" "I guess just like everyone else." "You're not everyone else." "If you were, everyone would reply to this ad and you are the only one." "So, are you afraid of dying?" "I guess." "I hate replies starting with "I GUESS"" "It seems to uncompromise the answer." "Shutting up would be more dignified, but "I GUESS"?" "All right..." "'I guess' I overreacted." "Can I ask you something really simple?" "You just did, do you want another one?" "It's just that we never said our names to each other." "I'd rather not use names." "Makes things too intimate." "At least not until I'm sure that..." "At least not for now..." "Back again." "Allow me to rephrase my question." "Do you have any reason to be afraid of death." "Is there anything or anyone... who would really miss you if you died?" "Would mankind be weaker if you did not create anything?" "Do you have plans to change politics, technology or art... in society as we know it?" "Like..." "Techonology..." "I guess not." "Oops." "I said "I guess"." "So this job has a risk of death, yeah?" "You are quite astute, huh?" "So now it's an easy answer." "I'm just afraid of dying." "What about living forever?" "You mess up my mind for sure." "I am trying to solve that." "You must forgive me, but..." "I can't do this job." "I hope someone else shows up." "Of course not." "If you want it, the job is yours." "But I didn't answer your questions." "Of course you did." "Can you read?" "This is an easy answer." "I read the ad." "Touché!" "I suppose you can also write or draw your name." "Be a good girl." "Read it and sign it." "Is this like a contract?" "Can take it home and read it carefully ?" "You can read carefully right here." "I know you'll sign it." "If you don't, you won't have money for your rented room." "You're too proud to sleep on the streets." "You can't go back to an old job, because you were totally inapt." "So, you'll read just to understand our agreement and that's all." "This is about science, biology..." "Any problem?" "It's just you said you're a writer and then it got messed up again." "Do you agree?" "I guess so." "'Guess'?" "Of course you do." "I could not expect for a different answer." "Pleased to meet you." "I'm Bruna." "You can call me Cristi." "Feeling at home, Doc?" "Music is a natural brain stimulator." "You're the scientist." "I would be, but I still don't have several necessary instruments to..." "Is it her?" "She speaks, Doctor, and also hears." "And answers to the name of..." "Cristi." "How are you..." "Cristi?" "Fine." "Cristi, this is Dr. Bartholomeu Bava, a renowed neurobiologist." "He's conducting the works and will also guarantee your... safety." "I know this is no 5-star hotel..." "There's...ah..." "There's your bed." "Toilet is over there." "There is a closet next to your bed for your things." "Didn't I tell you?" "Classified ad." "Is this the Melpomene?" "She's quite young." "Interested?" "Of course not." "I'm just saying she's young." "That's good." "Strong body." "I'm sure she worked in the crops." "These chips are larger than I thought." " I mean I guess she's too young..." " Don't guess." "When was the last time I told you that?" "Too long ago." "So, let's not waste another second." "Let's not." "For the operation." "Oh, yes." "I need a few exams." "And the operation?" " I said I need exams before..." " I heard." "And the operation?" " Are you in a hurry?" " Yes, aren't you?" " If I don't make the tests, I might..." " Excuse me!" "Is that the toilet?" "Thanks." "If I don't make the tests, things might get delayed or cancelled." "It can't be that complicated." "You just have to avoid the mistakes with your wife." "Tell me what you are thinking." "Give me some writing material." "Get your material somewhere else." "I am paying you well enough to give me material here." "You won't do anything." "You need me." "But beware." "Now I know how it feels to kill someone." "I killed my biggest love and I would not hesitate to kill you!" "15 years later and you haven't changed." "You fight like a child and talk like a cheap soap opera." "Tell me." "Do soap operas inspire mankind to say all this nonsense, or do people really talk like that and soap operas are accurate?" "You're a person." "You should know." "What I really want to know is..." "What are you going to do after I pay you?" "Are you gonna get a girl to marry and then kill her?" "None of your business." "How rude." "You could use the money to get me a drink, right?" "You wanna know?" "I lied." "What?" "Your book." "I didn't enjoy it so much." "I agree with that reviewer." "What's his name?" "Eduardo Graniti." "He's right." "You do have problems with your characters development." "If you have all this money," "I need a few things to complete the procedure." "If you're in a hurry," "Get out and bring me what's on this list." "OK, Bartsy." "I'll be right back." "Don't abuse our little guinea-pig." "I'm sorry." "I didn't mean to startle you." "It's OK." "Cristi?" " Is that your real name?" " Kinda." "It's a nickname." "Christiane?" "Cristilady." " You're not from around here?" " Seems everyone notices that." " What?" " Nothing." "Do your parents know you're here?" " I have no parents." " Sure." "Now that Bruna isn't around, can we turn on the radio?" "Yes." "Certainly." "Is that better?" "Much better..." "Thanks." " Do you like music?" " A lot." " Do you sing?" " Me?" "WHORE!" "No." "I don't sing too well." "No." "I can't believe that." "You look like you can sing wonderfully" "You look like a star." " Really?" " Really." "You're just saying that, mister." "No, I'm not and please call me Bart." " I can't do that." " Try it." "Come on and try." "Fine." "Bart." "Thank you." "Can I ask you something?" "Sure." "Is it gonna hurt?" "I'll do anything to keep you safe." "I promise you that." "What's your sign?" "What?" " Is Bruna your wife?" " No." "Sweethearts?" "We were once." "Not anymore." "What happened?" "Tomorrow's a busy day." "You better get some sleep." "Take one of these before you lie down." "What's it for?" "To make you forget you're here, girl." "To make you forget." " Are you afraid?" " A little." "Relax." "Everything's gonna be just fine." "Bartsy has done this before." "I didn't work out nicely, that's why he can't go wrong now." "When you wake up you'll feel way better." "If you're ok, I'll feel ok." "So, relax." "If I had any faith," "I would pray for a nice outcome." " If it doesn't..." " It will." "But if it doesn't , can you send the money to that address?" "And if it does?" "I guess things stay the same." "Funny." "Your parents... your foster parents... will only be proud of you if you're dead." "That's funny, right?" "Bruna..." "Leave her alone." "Don't get scared." "This is a safety measure in case of involuntary contractions" "Involuntary contractions." "I'll get you the anesthetic." "In a few minutes..." "You'll be asleep." " Can I ask you something?" " Of course." "Turn on the radio." "Now what?" "Now what?" "It's time." "For what?" "Don't get naive on me." "You know what to do." "Maybe it's not necessary." "Maybe another reaction..." "I read your report." "Does that make you a specialist?" "No." "But I understand what happened to 'wifey'." " You won't ...!" " Now the chip is in her, there might happen a ... a counterflow from the heart into the brain." "She might be different." "What If she's not?" "I can't use an exploded girl ." "I got a redneck as guinea-pig, but it can't become a habit." " This is totally wron..." " Don't say 'wrong'!" "Don't say that." "In case you haven't noticed, everything is wrong." "This is a crime." "It's only a crime if anyone else knows, or if you talk." "or if she talks." "She?" "Rip her heart out and then we'll see if she can talk." "You rip out." "OK." "I'll do it." "If that's the problem, I'll do it." "Don't get your hands dirty." "I mean... dirtier." "You sound now like a soap opera." "Tell me what to do and shut up." "You'll make an incision." "Right below the rib." "A cut as big as your hand." "A few more internal cuts into the chest." "Anything less obvious for me to know?" "Do whatever you want to." "I had never seen one of these close enough." " I expected more." " More?" "!" "I mean..." "I expected something different." "What did you expect?" "You told me once I had broken your heart." "Bruna, this is not the time." "Is this what you felt?" "You're..." "What did you think I felt?" "Stop this." "I have to suture..." "It came out right!" "Is this 'right?" "'" "Stop pretending you have a conscience!" "What do we do with this heart?" "Thank you." "What for?" "For this strange Deja Vu." "It's not funny anymore." "I didn't say it was funny." "Breaking a heart is a lot more complicated than splitting up." "I didn't have the stomach for your..." "Your Little games?" "But you had the stomach to marry that pathetic TV star?" "Did you really intend to asphyxiate that guy?" "Nothing was proved." "I have enough proof." "So do I." "Do you want to talk, or do you want to see the Melpomene in action?" "Is she reacting?" "I don't know." "You don't know?" "Do you know how to know more?" "This is your experiment, not mine." "No." "This is all yours." "The chip seems to be magnetically controlling the nerves, but..." "Damn!" "She has no reflexes." "Does it mean it went wrong?" "Is she a vegetable?" "I can't go on." "Don't say that." "Not now." "What am I doing?" "A job for me." "Now concentrate." "Her blood isn't moving." "To get her blood flowing, I must get her this." "What's that?" "Nervaglobine." "Is a compound to warm up muscles... and simulates bloodflow so her body can move." "You also need this painkiller." "Pain?" "Cristi, can you speak?" "I don't feel pain." "What did you say, girl?" "What do you feel?" "Nothing." "Emptiness." "Is that in your plan?" "No plans here." "The body is reacting to the Melpomene." "The chip controls psychotricity functions." "Her organs are dead and soon will start to shrink." "Am I alive?" "You're ..." "You're here." "What am I now?" "What you signed and agreed to be." "Cristi, listen up." "You now have the Melpomene." "Your body will change." "You'll no longer need food nor sleep." "You only need an injection once a day and ... yes..." "Recharge the chip every 34 hours or after the dopamine stimulation." "Dope...what?" "We're ready for the tests." "Give her paper and a pen." "You said you could write." "So be a good girl and start writing." "What?" "A theme for the composition?" "Ok." "Write what you feel." "Write about this emptiness." "One more thing." "You will feel different, but... for God's sake, do what she said." "Why?" "If you don't write... it's going to get worse." "How about it?" "Not bad." "Not bad for a country girl." "Lacks style." "A poor vocabulary, of course." "The poor girl has no repertoire, but there is attitude." "It would be unlikely to get this before the operation." "I need to recharge her." " Now?" " Now." "How long?" "" " This is not an exact scien..." "How long?" "Two hours, I would guess." "You guess?" "Two and a half hours." "How are you?" "It's strange not to sleep." "I haven't slept for two days." "I close my eyes, but..." "I still can't sleep, now my eyes are sore." "Use this whenever you feel your eyes are dry." "Your sense of smell?" "Nothing." "I don't feel anything." "Will I ever sleep again?" "Do you want me to turn on the radio?" "No need." "What's the name of this thing on my head?" "Melpomene." "'Ponene'." "Did you make this so people wouldn't sleep anymore?" "No." "The chip was supposed only to stimulate creativity ." "Everything else was... unexpected." "Like the other things." "Which things?" "You'll see." "Have you done this before?" "Yes." "Who was it?" "My wife." "What went wrong?" "I didn't do  a necessary procedure." "I have to interrupt this cheap soap opera and say that... this is good." "Quite good." "Sounds like John Fante, have you read Fante?" "No." "You had to read Bunker Hill for comparison." "What about Salinger?" "Your character descriptions are a lot like Salinger's ... with a little Bukowski." "Do you know Bukowski?" "No." "You need more reading." " If you don't sleep, you should read." " I should." "Satisfied?" "It's amazing." "This girl wrote two short stories in a day." "And they are quite reasonable." ""Reasonable"?" "That is subjective." "That queer Graniti would drool for a week if he read this nonsense." "It's inspired but it's too naive." "In a hurry?" " Hurry?" "The operation?" " Operation?" " On you." "What about it?" "Aren't the results good enough?" "Yes." "So?" " In a hurry?" " You were." "And you weren't." "Why now?" "I want to end this." "In a hurry to leave me again?" "No." "I just want to end this." "You must be quite busy out there." "I told you what to do." "Nervaglobine, painkillers and recharges." "Are you going out again?" "How dreadful." "Now she's in pain?" "What if she keeps breaking down?" "I need you to tell me what to do." "The stomach is shrinking." "Why don't we do like I did with the heart?" "What about my heart?" "How long will you hide this?" "What did you do with my heart?" "In this cheap soap Bartsy was telling you," "He didn't say his wife's head blew up because he couldn't take her heart." "The Melpomene controls nerves and bloodflow." " The heart becomes redundant and..." " You see?" "...Cristi, we saved your life." "Don't I have a heart anymore?" "No need for drama." "Don't you see what you are?" "You are a New Being." "You are the future of mankind." "The first one!" "This is amazing." "You should be proud." "Enough, Bruna!" "What did you do to it?" "Well..." " We had to..." " Get rid of it." "And me?" " If you get her a 'Melponepe"..." " "Melpomene"" ""Pone", yeah..." "Will you do to me the same as you did to my heart?" " No." "Then what?" "I had not thought of it until this morning." "What happened this morning?" "I read your writings... and I saw an alternative." "Which alternative?" "I don't need the operation." "I mean, we tested it in you and things are fine..." "But the risk is still there." "I know you well." "I can't leave my life in your hands." " I didn't mean to kill." "It was an.." " Accident?" "Bartsy, it's not an accident if you're doing something never done before." " Another word and..." " "Another word"?" "Bring the commercial" "Another soap opera line and my heart stops." "Calm down, girl." " I have no interest in killing you." " No?" "Even if I wanted, I can't do it now that you have this chip." "Is he dead?" "That was not my real plan." "But now its time to do some ad-libbing." "Have you read the Melpomene's reports?" "Of course not." "You don't read anything." "This chip is now installed in your Cranial Nerve Zero." "Most doctors say it does not exist." "Just like you." "Don't try to escape." "Write for me." "Create something useful." "And then burn the body." "You can guess where." "1372 nights later..." "Welcome to "The Reading Focus Show"." "We have here once again literary phenomenon Bruna Bloch." "Two years in a row always on the Top Sellers list." "Good evening, Bruna." "This is quite amazing." "Good evening." "Looks like it." "No need for false modesty." "It's just my job." "If people like it, it's a real privilege." "You released five books after your first hit." "One book every three months." "Sold out editions and new editions in time records." "Quite a feat in the book industry." "You even earned praises from feared critic Eduardo Graniti." ""B. Bloch achieves the malice that places her among great authors. "" ""She is still somewhat naive, yet with fine results. "" "I'm glad he changed his mind." "In fact you changed your style." "On my second novel, I tried a more 'naive' vocabulary." "Its simplicity was part of the comprehension." "And today you're releasing..." "My latest novel: 'Blood Fable'" "On bookstores this week." "And pre-sale is already sold out." "That's new for me." "You should be used to that by now." "One never does." "We can sense one recurring theme in your works." "Whether or not to kill what you love." "Yes." "Do you agree with your character?" "Do you have to kill what you love if you want to create something?" "The reader concludes on his own." "I'm just using my own voice." "I imagine you don't like to talk about this." "But newspapers are mentioning both your new book as well as  your illness." "You're right." "I don't want to talk about it." "Isn't the illness an inspiration?" "Do you intend to use this in your next book?" "I don't know if I will live long enough to write another book." "This place is stinking." " Can't you feel it?" " No." "Of course not." "I forgot." "Did they like 'Blood Fable'?" "Like?" "The loved." "Didn't you see?" "I'm glad you're happy." "Such a sad voice..." "What is it?" "Nothing." "I just... read Dostoevsky last night so..." "I never read anything by him." "I imagine it is really depressing." "I shouldn't have brought Dostoevsky." "He's not the depressing one." "Isn't he?" "Not what I heard." "You should read then." "No need." "I'll bring Proust to balance it." "You already did." "I already read it." "It's a 'waste of time'." "'Every rejected soul... '...met the two travelers and would face them closely, ..."" ""..." "like trying to recognize someone in the darkness under a new moon."" "Proust?" "It's obviously Dante." "If mice show up, get rid of them." "Mice?" "Yeah." "There are two mice here." "What?" "Don't you care?" "About what?" "Lies. "It's my own voice"." "Oh no." "Are you going to rebel again?" "What for?" "Don't you really care?" "Do you?" " I read your first book again yesterday." " Did you?" "You enjoyed writing." "I did." "I could see you savoring the words." "It's in the past." "Where do you think this tumor came from?" "Don't you feel like writing again?" "No." "I could help you." "You're already helping." "No." "I mean... really help." "with a Melpomene." "What an idea." "Didn't you want that?" " Who's going to put it?" "You?" " Sure." "When did you become a neurosurgeon?" "I have time here." "And neurosurgery just became a hobby?" "You said I should read Bart's reports on the Melpomene." "One day." "after I read Ulysses, I got bored, ...so I read it." "And you practiced on these mice?" "Something like that." "Ok." "Ok." "Ok." "He didn't want to keep a secret anymore." "The operation is not that hard." "The tricky part is to find the Cranial Nerve Zero, but I...." "I guess I did find." "So..." "Say Hi to Bruna, Bartlsy." "Didn't I tell you this would happen?" "Obvious conclusions." "Weird, right?" "He can't speak because a certain someone cut his neck." "So he developed this sort of telepathy." "You're a monster." "You could also be one." "Didn't you want this?" "You fifth class whore." "Don't , Bartsy." "How long, Bruna?" "What?" "How long will you live?" "None of your business." "Of course it is." "If you die, who's gonna bring me books?" "You should write more." "With the Melpomene, your tumor will no longer be a problem." "Shut up!" "Write more and talk less." "Write what?" "Your 'swan song'?" "You want to be remembered for something that's not yours?" " It is mine!" " I beg to differ." "Where would you be without me?" "In a rotten place like this, but with a beating heart." "And no thinking brain!" "You're digressing, Bruna." "Do YOU want to be remembered for something you did not do?" "Why should I trust you?" "Because you have no one else to trust." "What do you want me to do?" "Say 'yes'." "Operating on your head seems like a good idea to  to break the routine." "Be a good girl and write something useful." "Don't insist, Bart, I won't do it." "After all this time, you should understand." "She's waking up." "Good morning, princess." "Let's see how you are doing..." "Can you smell this?" "How do you know this thing smells?" "Formaldehyde." "Do you believe in anything written?" "Your attitude is indeed technology-resistant." "Did it work?" "Any answer should be followed by 'I guess', so I ... refrain myself from answering." "You can cut me loose." "There's still something." "Something?" "Don't you feel with all the time in the world?" "Won't I die anymore?" "Initially..." "But we must test." "Test?" "Bart, I can't do it!" "Bart, no..." "He wants to see your tumor." "I just wanted..." "The tumor." "The heart is a 'necessary procedure'." "It's not as dark as I imagined." "That was totally gratuitous, girl." "I have to confess something." "I haven't used the Melpomene since 'Blood Fable'" "I don't need it for writing anymore." "But you..." "Why did I need this thing in my head to reach this?" "Bart, no!" "I just came to visit you." "The coffee must have a great smell." "Stuffy nose?" "Caught a cold?" "No." "Don't ask for coffee." "I'm only making a cup." "I didn't want to drink it, I just wanted to smell it." "Did you see your brother in the big town?" "No." "I didn't want to bother." "That's a real son." "He studies hard." "Now he's a coroner!" "Mother, I'm not my brother." "All I wanted..." "Don't call me mother." " Here." " What's that?" "Cash." "From the streets?" "How awful, mother!" "Turn on the radio." "What for?" "Turn it on and then I'll go." "Try another station." "This is all I listen too." "Fine, but tune into FM." "Into a real radio with real music." " Blasphemous!" " Mother, don't push it!" "'...blackouts programmed by the city's power company..."" "What about it?" "It's gonna play." "I'm sure." "And now I bring you..." "Her." "Cristi Costa, the music phenomenon." "She's wrapped in mystery." "Nobody knows where she came from and nobody knows where she's ..." "Why did you turn it off?" "Devil's music doesn't get in my home." " The money came from this." " Happy?" "Go away now." "Keep the money." "Take it." "It came from fire... and will go back to hellfire." "Go back to hell." "Do what you will, mother." "You were right." "I shouldn't have come." "Danger." "Inflammable." "May I?" "Thank you." "Bart are you doing this?" "Feeling at home, girl?" " Bruna?" " Who else?" "Virginia Woolf?" "Hi Bart." "So you got into a much more complicated situation than ... the one I offered years ago." "You're alive?" "Always the naive girl." "Of course I'm alive." "Well, as alive as the both of you." "I locked you in." "I dug a hole." "Why didn't you think of it when you were there?" "What do you want?" "I want to get one thing right." "You're an immortal, no metaphores applied." "Using the power of Melpomene for..." "Pop Music?" "At least that's mine." "And a summer hit indeed." "Everyone loves Cristi Costa." "Not everyone." "Welcome to subjectiveness." "Why did you come here?" "You try to kill me, you get my car my apartment, my ex-boyfriend's head..." "And you think I'll be ok?" "Now Bart... watch your new 'wifey' die!" "Too bad you don't have hands to write." "Now your head will blow up." "I'm sorry." "I didn't push my Melpomene." "I'm not talking to you." "I guessed that..." "Don't guess." "Be a good girl and die." "And she lived." "Ever after."