Albert sits in his bed with his knees pressed against his chest and arms wrapped around his legs. He has tears slowly running down his face. Beside him, his father, attempts to console him. Albert’s just had a terrible nightmare, a recurring episode that he experienced as a child.
“There were terrible monsters, father.”
“It was just a dream, son. Remember, dreams aren’t real.”
[Albert stifles back another good cry to question him.]“It felt real enough to make me scared… and sad.”
[Albert’s father nods his head with a half-smile and starts to rub his son’s back.]“Well it’s over now, right? That means when you go back to sleep, you can have a completely different dream.”
“Yeah, another scary one.”
[Albert’s father lets out a laugh before patting little Albert’s back and resigning his efforts.]“Fair enough. I think I already know the answer to this, but tell me what’ll make you feel better.”
[Albert looks up at his dad – a microscopic smile starting to appear on his face. As his father’s eyebrows raise, they say the same thing simultaneously.]“Funhouse?”
[Albert’s worries seemingly dissipate into thin air as he gleefully smiles with approval.]“One episode, and then back to bed. Are we clear on that?”
“Crystal.”
[The living room. Albert sits on the floor, and waits for his father to turn the box-set television it.] [Once it does with a hum, The Funhouse Band begins to play, followed by a familiar voice.[“Welcome one and all to the Foley Funhouse!”
[Our junior-sized Lamplight sits quietly, with a massive grin on his face. This slowly fades away until we see Lamplight now, sitting in the same position – but now staring at a blank screen.]“Whether it was the extraordinarily happy music that played at the beginning, or the bright pastel colors that burned through the darkness and uncertainty.”
“Whether it was the safe place that your production provided, or the charm that made all of us want to be nothing else but as weightless as you – ”
“You illuminated me – when I was in my darkest, most uncertain place.”
“Until, one day, I had one of the worst nightmares of my life – and you weren’t there.”
“We flipped through the few channels we had, in hopes that you were playing a game of hide and seek, but you just disappeared.”
“And yet, even as I tossed and turned to fight the monsters inside of my eyes, I believed that you would eventually come back.”
“You never did, because you were pulled into your own darkness.”
“Someone took advantage of your kindness, and then they stole you from us.”
“As I grew older and learned to overwhelm my demons, yours continue to overwhelm you to this day.”
“What’s left from all of that extraordinarily happy music, or those bright colors, is that shadow of darkness and uncertainty that kept me awake.”
“A shadow that you’re unfortunately not conscientious of. I’m afraid.”
“But, after so many years of wondering where you went – I’ve found you. In the flesh.”
“And I believe it’s time for your darkness to be illuminated.”