MASON begins to speak again, but HOLLY puts a hand on his arm, 
and he stops. 


HOLLY 

We're sorry for upsetting you, but this is just protocol. We'll leave 
that question for later. | think that for now we have something to 
show you. 


MASON begins unpacking the bag. He takes out a small photo 
aloum and a mirror. 


MAN 
How did you get that? Why do you have my photographs? 


HOLLY takes the photo aloum from MASON, and opens it. 


HOLLY 
Sir, just answer our questions. After that, we'll answer yours. Now, 
where was this picture taken? 


MAN 
| was on vacation in Vienna with my family. It was hard, but | had 
saved enough to go. That was three years ago. 


HOLLY quickly turns the page of the album, points randomly. 


HOLLY 
This one? 


CLOSE ON PHOTOGRAPH OF UNFAMILIAR MAN, WOMAN, AND 
TWO GIRLS, IN FRONT OF A GARAGE. 


MAN 
That's us in front of the garage where | work. We took that two years 
ago. 


HOLLY 
This is you in the middle? 


MAN 
Yes, of course. 


MASON holds up the mirror. WIDER ANGLE TO INCLUDE 
MIRROR. The MAN can be seen in the mirror. There is no similarity 
between the man in the photo and the man on the bed. 


MAN 
Why are you doing that? 


HOLLY 
Do you see any differences between the man in this photo and 
yourself? 


MAN 
No, of course not. 


HOLLY 
Of course. 


ANGLE ON CHARACTERS 


MASON 

Sir, you are a teenager. Look at yourself. You are not forty-five. You 
are closer to fifteen. Your name is not Esteban Tetson, Esteban 
Tetson died while you were in elementary school. You are Jon Eois. 
You live with your parents, Kip and Janice. You have never been 
outside the United States. 


MAN 

| don't know why you have me here, and | will not answer any more 
questions until you explain what this is about. | know who | am. | 
know exactly who | am, and | am tired of these jokes. 


MASON 
| see. 


TWO SHOT OF MASON AND HOLLY repacking the bag in silence, 
leaving the mirror. They walk to the door, but HOLLY stops and 


turns. 


HOLLY 
Do you remember how you found that diary? 


The MAN does not answer. POV of the MAN watching the 
researchers exit, then looking back at the mirror. It shows Esteban 
Tetson holding the diary. CLOSE ON MIRROR. 


CUT TO HALLWAY 


TWO SHOT OF HOLLY AND MASON, STANDING AT THE WALL 
ACROSS FROM THE ROOM. 


HOLLY 
| think it's the book. He's too fixated on it, too illogical about it. 


MASON 
Just be glad he's safe to work with. We'll grab the book tomorrow, 
run some tests. | just want to see this thing filed and gone. 


A MEDICAL GURNEY ENTERS at the far end of the hallway, being 
rolled by another researcher. It is steadily rolled towards HOLLY, 
MASON, and the camera. HOLLY AND MASON watch it approach. 


HOLLY 
Mason? 


MASON 
Yeah? 


HOLLY 
Why'd | have to come here to meet someone? 


THE GURNEY reaches HOLLY and MASON. 


MASON 
Because the universe has a really weird sense of humor. 


THE MAN SCREAMS from OFF SCREEN. HOLLY AND MASON 
jump in surprise, and run for the door. The GURNEY WHEELER 
does not react, and continues to move. 


ANGLE ON DOOR. HOLLY OPENS IT, but the view begins to fade 
as soon as she does. 


FADE OUT 
END ACT Il 


ACT Ill 
FADE IN 


RESUME. TWO SHOT HOLLY AND MASON ENTERING THE 
HALLWAY. MASON is holding a CELL PHONE. 


HOLLY 
It figures, doesn’t it? We finally get an easy subject, and this 
happens 


HOLLY AND MASON stop walking outside the door. 


MASON 
We're just lucky, Hol. At least we’re not on statue duty. 


HOLLY shudders. 


MASON (CONT.) 
At least he died quickly. 


HOLLY 
That really isn’t very comforting. 


MASON 
No, | guess not. But we have to figure out how his body affected our 
lovely little ticket to Vienna. It’s procedure. 


HOLLY 

| know, honey. I’m just sick of this. Every day someone’s careless 
and there’s another body to deal with. It didn’t use to bother me that 
much, but now... 


HOLLY reaches for MASON’S hand. 


HOLLY (CONT.) 
Now, every day | think the body’s going to be you. 


MASON 
| know. We shouldn't be here anymore. 


HOLLY 
No choice. 


MASON 
| know. 


THE CELLPHONE BEEPS. MASON hits a button on it. 


MASON (CONT.) 
He's awake. Let's go. 


HOLLY AND MASON kiss, then walk to the door. 


ANGLE ON MAN, looking at the door as it opens and HOLLY AND 
MASON ENTER. 


MAN 
Finally. Holly, Mason, I'm fine. | have no idea how, but I'm fine. Now 
can | please go home and get some rest? 


WIDEN ANGLE to show all characters. 


MASON 
We've told you before, sir. Once we're done asking you questions, 
you can go. 


MAN 
What on earth are you talking about? 


MASON 
What do you- 


HOLLY 
Mason, how did he know our names? 


HOLLY AND MASON pause. 
ANGLE ON MAN 


MAN 
We've worked together for five years. Now stop joking around. 


MASON takes out his writing pad, and begins scribbling furiously. 
He does not look up when he talks. 


MASON 
What, if anything, do you know about the men Esteban Tetson and 
Jon Eois? 


MAN 
What? Why? 


MASON 
Just answer the question. 


MAN 
I've never heard the names before. Now can you please explain 
what's going on here? 


MASON 
What about that book you're holding? 


MAN 
My diary? I've kept it ever since | was a kid. 


MASON 
You bring it to work? 


MAN 
Of course | do. 


MASON 
In spite of the restrictions on personal belongings we may bring on 
site? 


MAN 
| don't see the relevance. 


MASON 
No, of course not. Holly, restrain him. | want to try something. 


WIDEN ANGLE 


THE MAN acts surprised and confused. He attempts to defend 
himself, but HOLLY easily overpowers him. MASON forcefully takes 
the diary from him. THE MAN begins to SCREAM. 


MASON (CONT.) 
Put him in the bathroom and lock the door. 


CAMERA FOLLOWS as HOLLY drags THE MAN to the bathroom 
and pushes him in, then shuts the door and presses a button on it. 


MASON (CONT.) 

He, or they, displayed an obsession with the book, a fear of 
separation from it. If I'm right, the effect should end after a bit of time 
alone. 


CAMERA CUT TO BATHROOM, with the MAN on one side of the 
screen and a mirror on the other. The mirror shows the reflection of 
another researcher. 


THE MAN begins to cough, growing steadily louder throughout the 
conversation. MASON AND HOLLY can be heard talking as if they 
were in the room. 


HOLLY 
Honey, | don't like this. We shouldn't do tests without approval from 
higher up. 


MASON 

That takes too long. | want to leave tomorrow. Hell, | want to leave 
right now. | don't want to talk to someone who believes they're a 
dead friend of mine. That's just too much. 


THE MAN begins to pound against the door, still coughing. 


HOLLY 
We can't afford to be careless, not now. 


MASON 
I'd rather take a risk than keep hearing that thing talk. 


THE MAN GASPS AND COLLAPSES. HOLLY AND MASON notice 
the absence of noise. 


MASON (CONT.) 
There. Let's go check. 


THE DOOR OPENS, HOLLY AND MASON STANDING in it. 
MASON is holding the diary. HOLLY rushes to THE MAN'S side. 
She puts her hand on his chest, and her ear to his mouth. 


HOLLY 
No heartbeat, no breathing. He's dead. 


MASON looks down at the body. 


MASON 
Where am |? 


HOLLY turns toward MASON. The mirror shows an exact copy of 
JON EOIS standing above his own body, in MASON'S place. He is 
gripping the diary. 


CAMERA CUT TO BLACK 


END ACT III 


Decency 


Let all of those who read this know that | have not failed 
my duties to the SCP Foundation. | have not broken 
under stress, nor have | gone crazy. What has happened 
is that | cannot allow the events around me to continue 
any longer. 


| am going to die. After hours in solitary confinement, and 
the time in-between being almost unbearable, I've come 
to conclude that my actions after this writing will 
unquestionably lead to my demise. If you find this before 
| die, do not try to stop me. I've made my peace with 
God, and decided that what | am going to do is the right 
thing. 


What | am about to do is break every single Special 
Personnel Requirement for the project | am assigned to. 
Normally, | wouldn't do this, but | just can't let her suffer 
any longer. Even though | will die trying, she will know 
that somebody cares for her. 


It will only be for a moment, maybe less. | don't care. 
Just as long as she's out of her torment for one second, 
it will be enough for me. It will be enough knowing that 
for that brief instant, she will know that she is not a 
prisoner, that she is not a monster, that somebody cares 
enough about her to do something about it. For that brief 
instant, she'll be free. 


| have passed all the psychological examinations. | have 
not broken down. | don't love her. | don't want an XK. All 
| want is for her to know, for the briefest instant, that 
somebody cares for her as a human being. 


And | will make sure she knows. 


coroner's office, and encouraged them to wait nearby until he was 
finished examining the crime scene. 


It was at this time that video showed the murder weapon used in the 
crime and sitting next to the body, originally written as a marble 
bookend shaped like a bust of William Shakespeare, was in fact one 
half of SCP-826. The novel that had been entered was lying on the 
floor, roughly half-way between the “murder weapon” and the other 
half of SCP-826. The test subject immediately retrieved the novel, 
despite the protests of the characters, and exited the novel before 
they could react. 


Upon examination, the novel now contained an additional character 
to the first chapter described as an “opportunistic thief’ who took 
advantage of the crime to “pilfer the belongs of the deceased”. Of 
special note is that the murder weapon was now a “handsome 
bookend of particular high quality”. 


This is the first reported incident of SCP-826 integrating itself into 
the plot of a novel. It might be an indicator of sentience or merely the 
narrative taking advantage of the fact that the SCP is identical to an 
item already in the novel. More testing is suggested. 


Head Researcher: Dr. Aaron Torres 


Subject: D-87631 

Material: A copy of "A Game of Thrones" by George R.R Martin. 
Equipment: One (1) Military-grade sabre 

Results: Upon entering, the test subject found itself in a circular 
room, with a table in it. At the table were the members of the "Small 
Council" as described in the original work. Test subject was 
instructed to disembowel the first human it sees in the work; this 
human happened to be "Lord Eddard Stark," a major character of 
the book. Upon examination after D-87631 exited the room, the 
book contained several new paragraphs on an attempt by a "very 
unintelligent assassin" on Eddard Stark's life. According to the text, 
Eddard recovered quickly, despite D-87631 reassuring Dr. Torres 
that "| stabbed him until he was definitely not going to live." The 
description of the attack supports this; it is theorized that SCP-826 
takes measures to preserve the core narrative of the story. 


-Agent Shields 


Note: At 0900 hours, Agent Shields stripped off his concealing 
helmet and somehow entered the enclosure of 231-7. 231-7 was 
awake at the time, but showed no reaction to Shields’ presence. 
Armed guards were deployed as he approached the bedside, placed 
a single rose upon it, and left the containment chamber. Four 
minutes after the security breach, Agent Shields was shot to death 
by six guards, and 231-7's amnestic schedule was altered slightly to 
allow for a dose shortly afterward. Procedure 110-Montauk was put 
into effect minutes later. 


Decisions We Make 


Sunday, May 9th, 2021 


Agent Sasha Merlo sat within the office of Edgar Holman, Director of 
Foundation Site—64 and a longtime friend. As she relaxed in one 
of the comfortable chairs he kept in front of his desk, she looked 
around the room at the various pieces of minor anomalous artwork 
that covered the walls. Her eyes snapped back to her host as 
Holman finished filling out some paperwork and cleared his throat. 


“You’re probably wondering why | asked you to stop by,” he said, 
taking off his reading glasses. 


“Well, you haven’t started yelling at me, so | assume I’m not in 
trouble, yet,” Merlo replied with a grin. “I figured you just liked my 
company.” 


“Cute,” Holman chuckled. “I’m afraid it’s a little more important than 
that. You are aware that William Johnson, my Assistant Director of 
Task Forces is planning to retire in two months, yes?” 


“| heard rumors...” Merlo furrowed her brow. “Why?” 


Holman slid a small folder to her and gestured for her to read. 
Merlo’s eyes widened as she scanned the words on the pages 
therein. 


As such, | am recommending Agent Sasha Merlo 
(Commanding Officer, MTF Gamma-13) to fill the 
position of Assistant Site Director of Task Forces 
following Johnson's retirement... 


“But... why?” she asked. 


“Because you get results, messy as they are sometimes,” Holman 
explained. “That, and you are an exceptional leader who has proven 


herself time and time again as part of the Gamma-13. If anyone is 
qualified to take over for Johnson once he leaves, it’s you.” 


“Doesn't Johnson get a Say in this?” 


“He agrees with me, and will be filing a similar recommendation.” 
Holman smiled. “Job’s basically yours already.” 


Merlo rubbed her temple. She opened her mouth to speak, blinked, 
then closed it again. The process repeated itself twice more before 
she managed to get her thoughts in order. 


“But what about the Lawbringers?” She asked. “If | climb the ladder, 
who takes their reins?” 


“| was under the impression that Agent Shaw was a good 
candidate,” Holman answered. “Is that not the case?” 


“No, Clarissa would easily be my top choice, | just...” Merlo gave a 
flustered sigh. “Il guess | never saw myself ever being on the admin 
side of things.” 


“We never do.” Holman shrugged. “But in the end, someone needs 
to step up to the plate and get the job done, and right now, you are 
the person | think will do the best in the position.” 


Holman then swiveled in his chair, turning away from Merlo. He then 
chuckled as Merlo watched the top of his head shake. 


“That also puts you in a position to take over as Site Director when | 
eventually retire,” he added. 


“Wait, what?!” Merlo went pale. “Say that one more time, please?!” 


“Oh, come on.” Holman swiveled his chair back to face her. “I’ve had 
this job for over two decades. At some point, | need to pass the 
torch. You’re the only person in this facility who | feel comfortable 
doing that with. You know the locale, you know the anomalous 
communities, you know Site-64.” 


Merlo remained silent. Her eyes remained locked with Holman’s. 
There she could see his absolute sincerity. 


“I’m at the point in my career where | need to start thinking about my 
legacy, Sasha,” Holman went on. “Passing the torch to you, and 
knowing the site was in competent hands after | leave will be a 
positive part of that.” 


“Will you give me a week to consider?” Merlo asked. 
“Take all the time you need,” Holman replied. 


Merlo gave a small smile and nodded. As she made her way to the 
exit, she turned to look back at her superior. 


“I’m glad you think so highly of me, Ed,” she said. “It means a lot.” 


2007 - Saturday, March 3rd 


As the van came to a stop, the members of the mobile task force 
inside did their final preps. An anonymous tip from within Seattle’s 
anomalous community had informed them of a massive anart and 
paratech dump within a warehouse. Within half an hour, the raid 
would commence.