1. "Something was pouring
from his mouth.
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2. He examined his sleeve. Blood?
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3. Blood. Crimson,
copper-smelling blood.
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4. His blood. Blood.
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5. Blood. Blood.
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6. And bits of sick."
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7. Greetings, traveller.
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8. I'm Garth Marenghi,
horror writer.
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9. Most of you will probably
know me already from my
extensive canon of chillers,
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10. including 'Afterbirth',
in which a mutated placenta
attacks Bristol.
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11. Back in the 1980s, I wrote,
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12. directed and starred in
'Garth Marenghi's Darkplace',
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13. a television programme
so radical, so risky,
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14. so dangerous, so goddamn crazy,
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15. that the so-called
"powers that be" became
too scared to show it
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16. and gipped me, much in the
same way that women have done
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17. ever since they
sniffed out my money.
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18. Only now in the worst artistic
drought in broadcast history,
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19. does the channel
come crawling back,
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20. cap in hand
and suitably ashamed,
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21. asking if your humble fabullist
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22. could once more retrieve
'Darkplace' from the boxes
in his spacious basement
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23. and let it loose
on it's unsuspecting public.
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24. That's you!
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25. Naturellement, I relented
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26. and spent over three hours
of my life knocking together
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27. some interviews with
the key players in this
historic programme,
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28. namely myself and my publisher,
Dean Learner.
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29. So, finally,
here is 'Darkplace',
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30. for the first time
on British television,
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31. it had a brief run in Peru.
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32. Sit back, dim the lights,
or switch them off
if you don't have dimmers,
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33. put conventional logic
to one side, and enjoy.
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34. Well, I say enjoy.
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35. I'm Garth Marenghi,
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36. author, dreamweaver,
visionary, plus actor.
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37. You are about to enter
the world of my imagination.
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38. You are entering my Darkplace.
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39. Just leave!
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40. Funny, that cat
just told me to leave.
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41. Hi. I've come to apply
for the doctor's job.
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42. I can assure you,
my credentials are top notch.
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43. I've just graduated from
Harvard College, Yale.
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44. I aced every semester
and I got an A.
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45. Well, that sounds excellent.
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46. Our last doctor
only just recently died
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47. in horrific circumstances.
Can you start immediately?
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48. Sure, do I have time
to go to the toilet?
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49. Not really, I've already
paged Dr. Sanchez
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50. who should be here
any minute now.
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51. I'm Dr. Sanchez. You're a woman.
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52. Yes, I hope
that's not a problem.
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53. Not at all, there's plenty
of skirt on the ward.
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54. This is the 20th century
after all,
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55. though some don't like
to admit it.
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56. Welcome to Darkplace, Liz.
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57. - My hand!
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58. Whoa, are you alright?
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59. Not really.
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60. I'm one of the few people
you'll meet
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61. who've written more books
than they've read.
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62. I felt I'd taken the novel
as far as it could go.
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63. I guess it was inevitable
that my imagination would
make the move to television.
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64. I got a script, read it,
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65. scared me senseless,
comme d'habitute,
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66. and I said to Garth, I looked
straight into his face...
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67. I've never been afraid
of holding a man's gaze,
it's natural.
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68. I said, this is going
to be the most significant
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69. televisual event
since 'Quantum Leap'.
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70. And I do not say that lightly.
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71. My name is Dr. Rick Dagless M.D.
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72. I got the call too early
to grab a shower
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73. so I had to make do
with a quick rinse
round the key areas.
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74. Some little Missy had
taken a nosedive in reception
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75. so muggins was meant to haul ass
down there and kiss it better.
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76. But first I had to visit
a very special friend.
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77. Is my daddy gonna be alright?
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78. Your daddy is very sick, champ.
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79. Is he going to die?
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80. We're doing all we can
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81. but I'm not Jesus Christ.
I've come to accept that now.
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82. - I've got to get this.
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83. Son of a bitch!
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84. That's my boss. I've gotta go.
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85. They work you too hard here.
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86. They should pay you
a hero's wage.
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87. You're a good kid.
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88. And you're a great doctor.
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89. Never take drugs!
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90. Dean's not an actor.
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91. I warned Garth.
I said, I'm not an actor.
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92. And he said,
I'll always remember this,
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93. that he didn't want an act,
he wanted the truth.
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94. So here is Dean Learner,
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95. playing Thornton Reed,
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96. not putting on an act
but putting on the truth.
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97. Listen up, ladies,
we've got a situation.
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98. A little lass
has just cracked her nut
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99. and if she croaks,
my arse is grass.
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100. That was Thornton Reed, my boss.
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101. Head of the department.
A ball buster.
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102. But then,
he had to answer to Won Ton.
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103. She's here on the express
say-so of Won Ton.
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104. A star pupil you might say,
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105. and one that Darkplace
has high hopes for.
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106. So far we've given her some
Lucozade and that's helped,
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107. but she says she's
having visions. Blood,
guts, a real horror show.
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108. That's Dr. Lucien
Sanchez. Hotshot surgeon.
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109. He's a good buddy, though
we sometimes have punch-ups.
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110. Is that why you called me in?
As far as I can tell,
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111. some dame's just banged her
bonce. Qu'est-ce que le diff?
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112. Wait, I have more things to say.
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113. Go on. Sorry for
the interruption.
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114. Don't mention it.
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115. She's saying there's something
supernatural going on.
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116. It's witchy woman witterin'
and it wants snuffin' out
at the wick.
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117. This is a place
of science after all.
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118. I need panic in the wards
like I need a hole in the head.
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119. Something supernatural, you say?
Sounds bang up your alley, Dag.
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120. Aren't you an expert
in the arcane and black arts?
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121. That was a long time ago, Sanch.
Got my fingers burnt.
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122. Well, you can
count me out, Reed,
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123. it's all voodoo nonsense
as far as this cat's concerned.
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124. Fair enough. You take
the reins on this one, Dag.
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125. But make sure
your methods are orthodox.
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126. Don't worry, Reed.
This sounds routine.
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127. I'm sure nothing
untoward will happen.
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128. I hope he heeds my words
about dealing with this
in an orthodox manner.
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129. He will. He's the best
damn doctor on the wing,
or on any other wing.
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130. - He's a wild card.
- But I'm glad he's in our deck.
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131. - Let's hope he
plays a fair hand.
- He'll come up trumps.
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132. If it's not a joker in the pack.
And sometimes there is.
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133. Jim?
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134. Can you get 2ccs of 0.2% saline
chloroxicide into bed 33?
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135. Then I need Neurology
to get their butts in gear
with that cardiogram.
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136. Tell them the endotrachial
ring is clogged.
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137. Come on, let's move it, people.
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138. - Dr. Liz Asher?
- Dr. Rick Dagless M.D.
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139. - You've heard of me?
- Who in the field
of medicine hasn't?
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140. Well, you shouldn't believe
everything you read
in the medical magazines.
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141. Welcome to Darkplace.
I've seen more
auspicious starts.
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142. I wasn't planning on falling
on my fanny, Dr. Dagless.
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143. I had a vision. I'm a psychic.
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144. - And I'm Bo Derek.
- No, you're not.
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145. You're right, I'm not.
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146. I guess I use sarcasm
as a defence.
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147. - I see the past, the present
and the future.
- Tough gig.
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148. Stop being sarcastic.
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149. Maybe if everyone who'd ever
been close to you had died,
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150. you'd be sarcastic, too.
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151. Yes. That makes sense.
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152. Come on, I'll lend you money
for a coffee.
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153. We ended up
going to the staffroom.
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154. There's access to a clean sofa
and the coffee's complimentary.
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155. Sanchez, my buddy, joined us.
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156. When he heard what Liz had
to say, he nearly split a log.
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157. Slops!
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158. So let me get this straight.
When you crushed my hand
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159. you had a vision that something
terrible has either happened,
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160. is happening, or will happen
to a patient in Darkplace.
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161. That's about the size
of it in a nutshell.
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162. Well, have you got a name
or a room number?
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163. - Room 213.
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164. That's where Renwick is.
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165. Who's Renwick?
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166. Err, no one. Forget it.
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167. I know you're lying to me,
protecting me.
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168. But I'm a big girl now.
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169. In a year's time
I'll be a woman.
Come on, who's Renwick, Rick?
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170. - I don't know what
you're talking about.
- Yes, you do.
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171. You're right. I do.
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172. Larry Renwick
was admitted here last week.
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173. The guy went axe happy
on a trout farm.
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174. He killed 60 fish.
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175. - You knew him, didn't you?
- You really are psychic.
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176. Yes. Watch this.
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177. Impressive, but don't
do that on the ward.
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178. So what happened between you
and this Renwick customer?
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179. Larry was a colleague of mine
when I first started here
at Darkplace.
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180. God, he was brainy. And brave.
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181. Saved my life once.
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182. I saved his life twice
so I was one up.
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183. We made a pact to push each
other's minds to the limit.
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184. And beyond.
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185. Naturally, we both became
fascinated with the occult.
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186. One night, Larry suggested we
try and open the gates of hell
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187. right here in the canteen.
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188. I pleaded with him.
I said, "No. Don't."
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189. But he insisted.
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190. That night, we performed
the rite and opened the gate.
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191. Halfway through,
I went to the kitchen
to fix us both a coke float
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192. but by the time I got back
he'd gone insane.
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193. Plus he'd left the gate open
and there was evil everywhere.
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194. I need to grab a shower.
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195. I re-closed the Gates of Hell
as soon as I could
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196. but Darkplace
has never been the same since.
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197. And with Larry back
it feels like the gates
could re-open any second
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198. and that's the
last thing I need.
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199. You're overworked as it is.
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200. Tell me about it,
it'd be a total hassle.
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201. Look, I'll help you.
I'm free most Tuesdays
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202. and my doctor's contract
hasn't officially started yet.
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203. This ain't orthodox, Liz.
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204. - Since when were you
orthodox, Rick?
- True.
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205. - Please.
- Alright.
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206. I'll pay you, though.
It'll make it bona fide
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207. and you could probably use
the extra pocket money
for clothes and make up.
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208. - Thanks, Rick.
I won't let you down.
- OK.
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209. Well, what would help me
most right now
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210. is if you could whack
a brillo round this mug,
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211. otherwise it'll stain.
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212. Sanch, I suggest you and I
pay Larry a visit
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213. before it's too late.
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214. Cos it's 8:00pm now.
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215. This is it.
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216. - You and he were buddies,
weren't you?
- Once.
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217. Listen, when I first
joined this hospital
I was strictly solo.
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218. You were the first
real buddy I ever had.
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219. But if you and he wish
to be best buddies again,
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220. I won't stand in your way.
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221. I've got a best buddy, Sanch.
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222. But some shit sticks
no matter how hard you scrape.
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223. Hang back.
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224. You got it.
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225. Larry?
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226. Are you alright?
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227. I think I'm gonna die.
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228. No, you're not. You're gonna
make it. I'll get help.
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229. Nurse!
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230. First things first,
I've got to stop you bleeding.
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231. Rick. I beg ya...
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232. Kill me.
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233. Oh Jesus, Larry,
don't do this to me.
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234. I beg ya.
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235. It really hurts.
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236. I beg ya.
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237. Forgive me!
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238. Bye-bye, buddy.
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239. I'll get a mop.
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240. I have never exploded
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241. but I know
what it would be like.
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242. Don't ask me how, I just know.
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243. I've always just known.
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244. I don't know whether someone
close to Garth had exploded.
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245. Whether it was a a colleague
or a pet.
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246. But you could tell
that scene meant a lot to him.
There were tears on set.
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247. Not from Garth,
he was strong for the crew.
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248. But I wept,
I'm not ashamed of that.
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249. It's, I suppose,
one of the many burdens
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250. he has to bear
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251. as an artist
in bringing us this gift.
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252. Thanks for explaining
the situation.
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253. I'm gonna give him
the rollicking of his life.
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254. You used this to treat him?
Where the hell did you train?
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255. I didn't want use that thing.
Larry was my friend.
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256. If that's how
you treat your friends,
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257. imagine how you treat your
enemies. Worse, I expect.
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258. He's right, Dag. What went
on in there wasn't by the book.
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259. Reed did specifically
tell you to be orthodox.
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260. Et tu, Sanché.
I thought we were buddies.
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261. - You're squabbling over this
like dogs with meat.
- I agree.
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262. Listen, this ain't another
exploding patient
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263. you can sweep under your rug.
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264. Now Renwick was a gateway
to another dimension.
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265. When he exploded
that gateway opened.
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266. We must shut it again
as soon as possible.
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267. What? Am I holding
a crock of shit?
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268. Tell me something,
is this hospital called
St. Crock of Shit?
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269. Alright, Alright.
Calm down, calm down.
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270. Emotions are running high.
What do you suggest, Dag?
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271. Well, we can start by burning
what's left of the body.
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272. Get lost.
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273. Cool it, Sanch, or you'll
get a knuckle supper.
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274. Look, Dagless.
You're an excellent doctor
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275. but you're also
a live-wire maverick,
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276. who when he's not
bucking the system,
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277. is biting the hand that feeds.
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278. Which, in your case,
is this hand.
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279. I'm not about to tell
the immediate family
of the deceased
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280. that we're gonna have to
burn what remains of his body
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281. in order to close a portal
to another dimension.
I just won't do it.
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282. This hospital's
got a reputation,
which I intend to keep.
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283. I've yet to see
any demons on the ward.
And I'm particularly observant.
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284. So go back to your lab and make
me a pill that can cure madness
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285. or I'll kick your ass so hard
you'll be able to build a pool
in the footprint.
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286. - Understood?
- As crystal.
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287. But if the gates of hell
do re-open,
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288. don't say I didn't
specifically warn you
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289. because I just have
and that means you'd be lying.
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290. I went for a drive
to clear my head,
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291. which is why I'm now in the car.
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292. I kept thinking about Larry
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293. and how inconvenient
his blowing up had been.
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294. Maybe the gates to hell
had closed once and for all.
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295. Maybe they hadn't.
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296. It was a double-edged point.
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297. Seems like
a regular burial, Rick.
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298. Do you really buy
this portal to hell deal?
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299. I wouldn't say I buy it, Liz.
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300. Let's just say
I'm window shopping.
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301. And right now, there's
a half price sale on weird.
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302. Larry Renwick
will be remembered for his wit
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303. and laughing eyes.
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304. And for being, above all,
a good friend.
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305. I'm sure we all feel
that he exploded too young
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306. but the Lord moves
in mysterious ways.
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307. Sometimes he'll come in
at an angle.
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308. Other times he can
hover or swoop.
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309. Sometimes he can come
in from beneath like a worm
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310. or mole.
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311. The Lord, it's his call
how he chooses to manoeuvre.
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312. Look out, he's got a gun!
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313. - No!
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314. My baby boy!
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315. Move aside!
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316. That's the mother, Rick.
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317. Well, that'll stop him.
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318. It seems as though Dagless
was right about burning Renwick.
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319. I'm just gonna over there
and tell him that.
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320. I don't know how, Rick,
but you were right.
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321. Here. Take this.
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322. I hate using these things.
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323. You'd best go see to the mother,
I had to put a cap
in her shoulder.
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324. Tell her... Tell her I'm sorry.
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325. You did what you had to do—
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326. I know, but do tell her
I'm sorry.
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327. Sure. And... thanks, buddy.
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328. Rick, where are you going?
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329. To get some air.
Copy !req
330. To get away.
Copy !req
331. The doors
of Darkplace were open.
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332. Not the literal doors
of the building,
most of which were closed,
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333. but evil doors, dark doors,
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334. doors to the beyond.
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335. Doors that were hard to shut
Copy !req
336. because they were abstract
and didn't have handles.
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337. They were more like portals,
really.
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338. From this day on I'd have to
fight these forces of darkness
Copy !req
339. and deal with the burden
of day-to-day admin.
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340. I do not believe
that any form of life,
Copy !req
341. be it human, animal or plant,
Copy !req
342. should be hurt in the
making a television programme.
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343. So I personally feel very bad
about the cat we killed.
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344. I had a cat once.
I dropped a sofa on it,
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345. it was a right off,
so I stood on its head.
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346. All I do is sit down
at the typewriter
Copy !req
347. and start hitting the keys.
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348. Getting them in the right
order that's the trick.
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349. That's the trick.
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350. 'Garth Marenghi's Darkplace'
is a Garth Marenghi production.
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351. In association
with Dean Learner.
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