Bright: Speaking of which, what's with the chains? 


Mann: These chains | wear, Jack Bright, these chains that | 
forged in my own life. Link by damned link and yard by 
damned yard, | gathered them on my own free will and of my 
own free will | wore it. Is the pattern strange to you, Jack? 
Can you feel the weight and length of the chain you wear 
yourself? Yours was like mine, seven Christmas Eves ago. It 
is a ponderous chain, and imagine how it may have grown 
these long years! 


Bright: Everett, please. Speak comfort to me. 
Mann: | have none to give, Jack. | have nothing but the chain. 


Bright: But you were such a good site director, Everett, the 
best at your business— 


Mann: BUSINESS! 


ALL ACTORS and BRIGHT recoil away from MANN. A bright 


SCP-776: The Youth Cult 


Item #: SCP-776 
Object Class: Euclid 


Special Containment Procedures: A 6.5 meter wall with posted 
guards and a surveillance system has been built around the town 
inhabited by SCP-776-A. Civilians are under the impression that this 
marks the territory of a government research facility. Site- has been 
established within these limits for research into the anomalous 
properties of SCP-776-A. Personnel assigned to SCP-776-A are 
free to interact with its members at any given time, but are 
encouraged to limit such contact to only that which is needed to 
further understanding of the SCP. Interaction with members of 
SCP-776-A is limited strictly to testing in light of the events of 
Incident 776-3. No individual who is part of the SCP-776-A group is 
allowed to leave the town under any circumstances. 


Description: SCP-776-A is the adult population of a remote town 
located in the far northwest corner of Russia, estimated at 6 
individuals. The members of SCP-776-A have discovered a method 
of reversing biological aging, designated SCP-776-B. The ritual 
involves the sacrifice of a human being who must be younger than 
the performer of the ritual, with children being the preferable 
subjects of sacrifice. The complete instructions for enacting 
SCP-776-B have been recorded in Document 776-109-Alpha, a 
Level 776-4 restricted document. Members of SCP-776-A claim to 
have been using SCP-776-B since 18 to sustain eternal life and 
semi-eternal youth. Members of SCP-776-A refuse to divulge the 
origins of SCP-776-B. The average age of SCP-776-A members 
ranges from 23 to 51 years of age. This cycle of aging progresses 
as follows: 


¢ From 23 to 39 years - After regressing in biological age as a 
result from enacting SCP-776-B, members of SCP-776-A lead 
considerably active lives, some claiming to have made regular 


red light shines on him. 


Mann: Mankind was my business, Jack. Goodwill to all men, 
benevolence, protecting the poorest and weakest of us, they 
were my business! And | forsook them all! (He pauses, as if to 
listen.) Listen to me, Bright. My time with you is nearly over. | 
am a warning to you, as | wish | had been warned all those 
years ago, that you have yet a chance to escape the fate to 
which | am condemned. 


Bright: You... you were always a good partner and friend, 
Everett... 


Mann: You will be haunted by three Spirits. 

Bright: Sp— spirits? Is this the chance that you mentioned? 
Mann: Aye, it is. 

Bright: (Pauses, pondering.) Then... uh, I'd rather not. 


Mann: Expect the first on the morrow, Jack, just past the first 
hour of the morning! 


Bright: So we're really doing this, then? Can't | just have 
them here all at once and get it over with? 


Mann: The second will come the next night, at the same hour. 
The third on the day past that, before the the last stroke of 
midnight has ceased to ring. 


MANN begins to fade into the darkness. 


Narrator 1: When the Ghost of Mann had said these words, 
he was overtaken by the darkness. 


Narrator 2: Bright moved to come close to him. 


Narrator 3: But Mann held out his hand, as if to tell him to 
come no further. 


MANN is almost completely gone. 


Mann: Beware, Jack of Site-19! (He disappears, only his 
lingering echo remains.) Beware! 


Bright: Bah... | really need to lay off the drink, though. That is 
not a joke, this is legitimately becoming a problem. 


Narrator 2: Bright returned to his bed, and fell asleep 
instantly. 


Light fades on BRIGHT. Outside, a LAMPMAN walks down 
the street lighting lamps. As he walks, he sings quietly. 


Lampman: 


O HOLY NIGHT, THE STARS ARE BRIGHTLY SHINING, 
IT IS THE NIGHT OF THE DEAR SAVIOUR’S BIRTH. 
LONG LAY THE WORLD IN SIN AND ERROR PINING 
TILL HE APPEARED AND THE SOUL FELT HIS WORTH. 
A THRILL OF HOPE, THE WEARY WORLD REJOICES, 
FOR YONDER BEAMS A NEW AND GLORIOUS MOURN. 
FALL ON YOUR KNEES! 

OH, HEAR THE ANGEL VOICES! 

O NIGHT DIVINE! 

O NIGHT WHEN CHRIST WAS BORN! 

O NIGHT DIVINE! 

O NIGHT, O NIGHT DIVINE! 


All lights extinguish. There is silence. BRIGHT snores loudly. 


Act Il 


The First of Three Spectres 


Narrator 4: When Bright awoke, it was so dark that fora 
moment he feared he had gone blind. 


BRIGHT snorts and awakens suddenly. 


Bright: Ah! | fear | have gone blind! 


Narrator 4: | just said that. 
Bright: (To Narrator 4) Oh. Sorry. 
Narrator 4: Your eyes are fine. 
Bright: Yeah, | see that now. 
Narrator 4: It's just really dark. 


Bright: Really should keep the bathroom light on or 
something. 


Narrator 4: It would help. 

Narrator 1: Suddenly, a bell sounded. 
All of the WOMEN in the ENSEMBLE. 
Women: DING! 

All of the MEN in the ENSEMBLE. 
Men: DONG! 


Narrator 5: There was a flash of light in his room, and then 
before Bright stood a strange figure. 


DR GEARS, THE GHOST OF CHRISTMAS PAST appears. 
HE seems soft and gentle, with a warm smile and cheerful 
eyes. He wears a white robe and glows softly. 


Narrator 3: It was a figure— like a child, yet not... really a 
child, since it was a full grown man, who... was also like a 
ghost, but you got the feeling it was a child, or... yeah. 


Bright: Cog? 
Gears: Hey Bright. 
Bright: Are you the Spirit wno Mann warned me about? 


Gears: In the flesh. 


BRIGHT raises an eyebrow. 

Gears: It's a figure of speech, Jack. 
Bright: What are you? 

Gears: | am the Ghost of Christmas Past. 
Bright: Long past? 

Gears: No, your past. 

Bright: ...so, long past, then. 

Gears: Yeah. 


Narrator 4: The Spirit put a hand on Bright's shoulder as it 
spoke and gently squeezed it. 


GEARS squeezes BRIGHT'S arm a little too hard. 

Bright: (Monkey screams) Ouch! Fuck, what was that for? 
Gears: Rise, Jack. Ride with me. 

Bright: Ride? Ride what? Can't we just walk? 


Suddenly a splendid and majestic DEADLY MOOSE appears 
from the ethereal plane. GEARS climbs onto a saddle, and 
motions for BRIGHT to do the same. 


Bright: Is this faster? 

Gears: Can you walk through time? 
Bright: ...no. 

Gears: Then yes. Hop on. 


There is a mighty gust of wind, and the DEADLY MOOSE 
takes flight. BRIGHT struggles to hold on, while GEARS 
stares straight ahead into the night. Snow swirls around them. 


Narrator 2: As quickly as they did rise into the night sky, so 
did they descend before a long, dirt road surrounded by trees. 
The darkness of Bright's home had vanished, and was 
replaced with the light of a cold, clear winter day, with fresh 
snow upon the ground. 


Bright: |... wait! | know where this is! This is the road through 
the country to Site-17! This is where my first assignment was, 
where— how long ago was it? | would've just been a kid. 


Narrator 1: Bright was immediately overwhelmed with a 
veritable cacophony of familiar smells and sounds, all 
connected to thousands of happy thoughts and joys, long 
since forgotten. 


Gears: Is there something in your eye, Jack? 

Bright: What? Oh, no, no, | just... it's nothing. Just the cold. 
Gears: Do you remember the way? 

Bright: Remember it? | could walk it blindfolded! 


BRIGHT takes a few steps before stopping and taking a deep 
breath. 


Gears: Strange to have forgotten it for so many years. Let us 
go. 


They approach the entrance to Site-17. Around them swarm 
young doctors in coats, MTF agents in riot gear, workers 
moving boxes of files, and so on. 


Narrator 3: The site was filled with activity. 

Narrator 4: Young researchers with the world in their eyes. 
Narrator 5: Agents fresh out of the Academy... 

Actors 5: ...or back from assignment in the field... 


Narrator 2: ...all returning to the only home they ever knew... 


Narrator 3: ...the place where they felt most comfortable... 
Narrator 4: ...at old Site-17. 


Gears: Ah, but these are only shadows of the things that have 
been. 


BRIGHT is caught up in the activity and festive mood of the 
place. He begins to greet people, though they do not notice. 


Bright: Hey, Anderson! (Pause.) Dr. Livingston, long time no 
see! (Pause.) Karlyle, wow, it's like you haven't— 


Gears: They have no consciousness of us, Jack. They are 
only projections. 


The CROWD clears revealing a CHILD JACK BRIGHT. 
Beside him is his father, ADAM BRIGHT, scolding him. CHILD 
BRIGHT looks despondent. 


Bright: Tha- that's me! And my... my body, | was just a boy... 
before... and my father, he— 


Gears: This was only the beginning, yes? An eternity of trials 
await, but this boy knows only the scorn and disdain of his 
father. 


CHILD BRIGHT sighs. 


Bright: |... | remember this. Like something out a dream, it 
seems so long ago, and yet... (BRIGHT and GEARS move 
on. CHILD BRIGHT and ADAM BRIGHT disappear into the 
darkness.) | wish... ah, but it's too late now. 


Gears: What is it? 


Bright: There was someone singing a Christmas carol 
outside of my office last night. The child of some young 
researcher, no doubt. I... | should have like to have given him 
something. That's all. 


Narrator 2: Gears smiled knowingly. 


Gears: Come, Jack. Let us see another Christmas. 


They open a door and walk into a laboratory. Sitting in the 
middle, alone, is YOUNG JACK BRIGHT. His body has 
changed, he is no longer the man he once was. Now he is 
someone else, and as he stares at his hands, he takes in the 
gravity of what has happened to him. Around his neck hangs 
a shining red and gold amulet. 


Bright: This... 
Gears: Look. 


A door open behind them, and in rushes SOPHIA LIGHT. Her 
hair is blonde and pulled tight into a bun behind her head, and 
her eyes are wide behind her glasses. 


Light: Doctor! 
Bright: Sophia?! 
Light: Jack! 


BRIGHT extends his arms to embrace her, but she runs past 
him to YOUNG BRIGHT. 


Bright: Sophia! She's here! Alive again! 
Light: Jack, you're alright! You... you are alright, aren't you? 


Young Bright: |... | think | am... this— (Points to amulet.) ...| 
think this saved me. 


Light: That's SCP-963, isn't it? (She reaches for it.) Let me 
see— 


Young Bright: No! (He pulls back.) No, it... it might do to you 
what it did to... he— 


Light: (Embraces Bright nonetheless.) Oh, nevermind that. 
I'm so glad you're alive, Dr. Bright. | thought we had lost you. 


Young Bright: (Smiles.) Thank you, Sophia. I'm glad to still 
be here. 


The darkness encompasses them. 

Gears: A fine doctor, Sophia. Truly the best of us. 
Bright: So she was. You're right. 

Gears: She died years later and had, | think, children. 


Bright: One child. She died protecting him during a 
containment breach. 


Gears: Your adopted nephew. 
Bright: Aye. 


They pause for a moment, and then move through another 
door. 


Narrator 4: The ghost moved to another office, more festive 
than any of the previous, and asked Bright if he knew of it. 


Bright: Knew of it? This was my first assistant director 
position! (AGATHA RIGHTS enters. She is a tall, full woman, 
carrying wrapped gifts and bottles of wine.) That's Director 
Rights! Holy shit, it's Rights, alive again! 


Rights: Ho there! Jack! Alto! 
(YOUNG BRIGHT and ALTO CLEF enter.) 
Clef: Here we are, Director! 


Bright: My eyes deceive me! Alto Clef, in the flesh. We were 
comrades, him and |, spent years together here. 


Rights: Come, my boys! No more work today. Containment 
can wait until tomorrow. It's Christmas Eve, Alto! Christmas, 
Jack! Finish with that paperwork and let's have ourselves out 
of here! 


YOUNG BRIGHT and ALTO CLEF begin to file paperwork. 
Clef: Jack, | had a dream the other night. 
Young Bright: What's that, Alto? 


Clef: One day... some Christmas Day | hope that | can hold 
as great a party as Director Rights. 


Young Bright: As great as Rights'?! Impossible! But... | have 
dreamt the same myself, friend. What a party that would be! 


Clef: Then we'll hold our parties together, at Site-19, and 
invite all of our friends— 


Bright: (Sadly.) ...friends long since forgotten... 

Clef: —and we'll have food- 

Young Bright: —and drink! 

Clef: Yes! And so much drink! And gifts for the whole staff! 


Young Bright: And you and | will be hailed as the greatest 
and kindest site directors of all time! 


Clef: And everyone will love us! 


(DOCTOR TIMOTHY BURNS enters. He is as jolly and 
cheerful as his wife.) 


Burns: Say, who's loving who? 
Clef: Oh, come off it, Burns. 
Young Bright: Good evening, Dr. Burns! 


Burns: Let's go, boys! Tonight is gonna be great night! Now, 
let's go find the wife and get this show started! 


Rights: Ah! There's my darling husband. (RIGHTS and 
BURNS hug.) Clear back here, lads! We've got a night's worth 
of dancing ahead of us! 


Burns: You bet your sweet ass we do! 


Rights: And who better to have as a dance partner than my 
own husband? 


Burns: Oho! You're assuming I'll accept your proposal? 


Rights: For thirty-years you've been accepting my proposal, 
and you're no prettier now than you were then! | see no 
reason why you'd stop now! 


(They laugh. ACTORS rush in from all sides, wildly stripping 
off their lab coats and goggles in exchange for festive 
Christmas garb. As the music starts, they all begin to dance.) 


Narrator 3: Beautiful young women— 
Narrator 1: —and handsome young men. 
Narrator 2: Doctors, researchers, agents, janitors and all! 


Narrator 4: Rights and Burns saw no class structure. They 
saw no prestige or wealth. Within the confines of Site-18, they 
saw only good hearts and good souls. 


The ACTORS begin to sing "DECK THE HALLS". As they all 
begin to dance, BRIGHT is swept up in the activity and 
himself begins to dance, weaving in and out of the group. 


ALL: 


DECK THE HALLS WITH BOUGHS OF HOLLY 
FA LALA LALALA LA LA LA! 

‘TIS THE SEASON TO BE JOLLY 
FALALALALALALALALA 

DON WE NOW OUR GAY APPAREL 


GEARS holds up a hand and the room is suddenly silent. 
BRIGHT continues to dance for a moment before realizing 
they are dancing without music. 


Gears: They made people so happy, so full of gratitude. A 


travels abroad when they had sufficient funds to do so. 
Members of SCP-776-A are also notably lenient in sexual 
conduct, with married couples frequently partaking in affairs 
with each others’ consent. The overall demeanor of SCP-776- 
A members is most positive during this period, and a general 
increase in cooperation is observed during this period. Any 
pregnancies resulting from the increased sexual activity during 
this period are terminated by SCP-776-A members as soon as 
possible. 


* From 39 to 51 years - Members of SCP-776-A prepare their 
homes for supporting children as they approach the age of 40. 
Once the average age of SCP-776-A is 40, members engage 
in sexual intercourse for the purpose of procreation. Members 
spend the next approximate 11 years raising their children. 
SCP-776-A members show signs of depression during this 
period. 


* At age 51 - Members of SCP-776-A bring their children to 
warehouse-like structures near the outskirts of the town to 
enact SCP-776-B. Each individual enactment of SCP-776-B 
takes approximately 20 minutes to complete. SCP-776-A 
members exit the structures approximately 28 years younger 
than before. The interior of this structure is slated for 
examination.