SARA: (Sighing quietly) "Okay, Victor. Just… let me try. "(She clears her throat and does a weak impression of a child's voice) "Tell me, Jasper, what do you know about… the faraway place?"

Victor winces, his hands clenching into fists.

VICTOR: "No! It’s not like that! You have to… to feel it! You have to listen to him!"

SARA: "Victor, it’s just—"

VICTOR: (His voice sharp, rising in panic) "You're not doing it right! You’re not trying! You don’t understand!"

His face is red, and his hands start to shake. He looks around the room, his breathing becoming rapid and shallow. Overstimulation is setting in.

SARA: (Her voice softening, moving closer) "Okay, okay, Victor. It's okay. Let’s just… breathe. We can try again."

VICTOR: (He covers his ears, his voice a muffled cry) "Just… quiet! Quiet!"

Sara rises slowly and goes to the door. She opens the door.

SARA: (Calls softly) "Tabitha? Can you come down please?"

Seconds later, TABITHA, Ethan's mother, comes into the basement. She looks worried at Victor, who is still covering his ears.

SARA: "Tabitha, can you sit and help Victor with Jasper?"

TABITHA: (She nods) "Of course."

Tabitha sits next to Victor, giving him space but a gentle presence.

VICTOR: (Taking his hands from his ears now that he has the presence of a friend) "Okay… Jasper only tells those who listen… like Christopher… he talked to Christopher."

TABITHA: (Speaking calmly and quietly) "Okay, Victor, I’m listening. Tell me what I need to do."

Victor looks at Tabitha, his eyes narrowed in earnestness.

VICTOR: "Sit with him... hear him... help me… Make him tell us what he told Christopher. Help him reveal the secrets for us to leave."

He pushes the doll towards her, a glimmer of hope in his eyes, his hands still trembling slightly.