Larry and the Engineer

## Premise

After the events of the Mr Zippy River, Larry and the Engineer finish shooting the movie's climactic scene and spend some time getting to know each other.

## Cast

* Modmad as The Engineer
* Yuni as Larry Samuel

## Plot Summary

About 2 days after the battle of the Mr Zippy River, the Engineer and Larry Samuel are shooting the end to the scene where the Engineer fell in the ice (using the real footage from that event). In the scene, Larry (still as a police officer) chases after the underwater Engineer across the breaking ice. Once he reaches him however, the ice 'breaks' underneath him sending him down into the water too (of course this is all special effects as the Engineer knows that Larry doesn't like water). Larry then pulls the both of them up and out. When the Engineer asks why he helped him, Larry says that he didn't take the job to tear families apart before discarding his police badge and offering to help the Engineer with raising the child. Happy with the scene, the Engineer calls it quit for the day and he and Larry take a moment to rest while everyone is packing up.

They sit and drink some hot chocolate to warm up. The Engineer pours something into his before offering it to Larry. Larry agrees only to find out that it is hot sauce. As they are sitting, the Engineer casually offers to have DJ Mooves teach Larry to swim but Larry refuses, saying he's already done enough and he doesn't understand why the Engineer even wants him in his movies. This leads to the Engineer going on a rant about how good Larry's comedic timing and his stunts are and that he would be crazy to not want him. Larry grudgingly concedes, causing the Engineer to back down but not before humorously telling him that he might be in the wrong industry (having heard about Larry's terrible performance before the penguin director). Larry admits that he doesn't do music for other people but rather he does it more to express the way he feels. The Engineer completely understands this and the two bond over their shared interest in the field of art and creation.

Larry asks the Engineer how he got into film and the Engineer tells him about how his mother took him to see the first movie ever made (about a train) as a child and how he was entranced and knew that's what he wanted to do. Larry admits that he'd never been on a train till the Taffy Train and the Engineer tells him that he'll have to introduce him to Willow some time (once he can buy her back from McCodger). He reminisces a little about building her and naming her before Larry asks if that's how he got his own name (The Engineer). The Engineer admits that he's had a bunch of names over his time in the film industry (including the moniker 'The Man Who Died a Thousand Times' when he was a stuntman) but seems reluctant to bring up his original name. Larry doesn't press and the two begin back towards Dodo Studio.

Along the way, the Engineer asks about Larry and whether he's planning on sticking around. Larry's answer is fairly non-comital. He says that he's enjoyed the time he's spent with them all so far and that he at least plans to stay around longer but not to expect him to be a part of what the Engineer and the kids (Shorts Kid and Snalien) have. When pressed further Larry admits to having something like it before and that it's not worth the pain of losing it when it inevitably comes to an end. The Engineer still doesn't agree but after a small speech about family decides to drop the topic as they reach the studio.

As they are putting things away Larry brings up Dora Z. Scale and how weird it was that she was targeting the Engineer so specifically. The Engineer agrees saying that he'd never even met the woman before the Taffy Train before wondering if maybe someone put her up to it. They pause to think over the implications of that before the Engineer asks Larry about his glowing banjo. Larry admits he has no idea why it glows and the Engineer sympathizes saying he has no idea where he got his our sword from. All he knows is that he woke up 48 hours after the Taffy Train exploded with the sword, the pink scarf he now wears, a little crocheted flower pin and only very hazy half memories of the time.

Suddenly changing the topic of conversation the Engineer then asks Larry what it's like to be tall. Larry says it's pretty great being able to reach things. This leads to some more praise at how fast Larry was going on the ice before the Engineer asks if he has a place to stay. Larry tells him that he's been staying at the inn so the Engineer offers him a place to stay in the studio. After being reassured that he would have privacy while sleeping Larry accepts. The Engineer then takes a moment to reiterate that he does care about Larry, not just as an asset but as a person which means a lot to Larry.

Knowing that the whole water thing needs to be addressed, Larry begins to hesitantly bring it up. Figuring out where he's going with this, the Engineer brings out a confidentiality agreement for himself to sign about Larry's secret. That helps Larry feel better about the whole thing and he removes his mask, showing the Engineer what is behind it. The Engineer understands why swimming lessons isn't going to help and starts to muse on things he could come up with the help. When Larry protests this, the Engineer hushes him saying that he's family whether he likes it or not. Larry asks if they can just stick with Boss for now and the Engineer agrees before the two go to find Larry somewhere to stay down in prop storage.