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Alan (V.O.): Scratch stopped me before I could finish my edits to the manuscript. The memory of my edits was already fading. Terrible things would happen if the manuscript came true. Scratch was there, at Parliament Tower. Undoing my work. He could use the story to escape. He’d go after Alice. Zane had said we worked on “Return” together. That was a lie. Scratch wrote “Return”. I would pay Zane another visit. He had guided me to two murder sites. I needed a new one to get back to Parliament Tower. A new draft of “Initiation”.
Alan: I don’t have time for this, so let’s get it over with. Tell me, was this all fake, a show?
Mr. Door: No one said otherwise, Mr. Wake. It was to indulge you, but we can stop pretending now.
Alan: Masks come off.
Mr. Door: Oh, I wouldn’t go that far. I don’t even think you know who’s under your mask. But you know how to make things difficult for yourself. All these rules. Endless, convoluted loops you insist on going through. You are so lucky, you know? There are so many people helping you, armies of people. Myself. Your wife.
Alan: Alice? I need to get to her. She’s in danger.
Mr. Door: She is, because of you. And so is someone important to me, someone you pulled into this. You keep opening doors, peeking in, reaching through to get what you want. And that puts you in my path.
Alan: I don’t know what you’re talking about. I have to go now.
Mr. Door: Maybe you will make it through this time. This has gone on long enough. This and our Night Springs. It was a nice distraction.
Alan: It’s time someone gave me a straight answer here.
Mr. Door: The next time we meet, the circumstances will be very different. And you would do well to return the favor by playing your part. Or stay out of my way, Mr. Wake.
Alan: Whatever you say.
Alan (V.O.): Door, Zane. The masks were finally coming off. Was it a sign I was closer to escaping? I had no time to waste. I needed a new draft of the story, one that would get me ahead of Scratch.
Alan (V.O.): The door was locked.
Ahti: Hurry, Tom! Here is the light at the end of the tunnel. If you come in last, you can’t be happy. (Jumalauta), that held you close, Tom. (Ei muuta kun) onwards, said the granny in the snow. When the panic is biggest, the help is also near.
Alan: Door didn’t seem happy to see me this time.
Ahti: Fearing the master is the root of wisdom. But don’t let the game get you down. He is playing his role. Maybe put him in your films, Tom, like you have put me. (Perkele! Sehän olisikin).
Alan: What films?
Ahti: I’m a fan of your masterworks. There is “Tom the Poet”, my favorite. And “Yötön Yö” is the most famous one, of course. And is it true what I heard, that it’s coming back to cinemas soon? Is there a bottom to this rumor?
Alan: I need to get back to my apartment. Can you help me?
Ahti: Well-planned is half-done. You asked me to make sure you won’t forget the… (mikä se valokuva oli) light pictures, the photos your artist wife took. They are waiting in the shoebox in the basement. What you leave behind, you find in front of you.
Alan: Okay, thanks Ahti.
Ahti: I’m looking forward to seeing “Yötön Yö” in the cinema, but first I work. And the work won’t end even when you do it (perkele). (No ei siinä), one potato at a time. Just remember, Tom — the brave will eat the pea soup!
Alan (V.O.): I would find Alice’s photos in a shoebox.
Alice (V.O.): A spark, a bullet of light to push the darkness away.
Alan (V.O.): These were Alice’s photos. I recognized the style. One showed the Clicker sinking into darkness. The other showed a light in the shape of a bullet. They were important, even if I didn’t know what to do with them yet.