Marti Creeped Out

The Curious...

They say he collects strange tales.

And if you ever hear his whistle,

you know something creepy is about to unfold.

HE WHISTLES

No-one knows where he's from...

..or where he's going to.

But people say he appears in the back of photos,

and it goes back decades.

Is it wise to capture life in a tiny box that can be lost, broken,

stolen, or corrupted?

Everything you value could be gone...

..in the time it takes to hit send.

BELL RINGS

See my status about the dance?

Your one about finding a dress?

-Uh-huh.

-I just replied.

Oh, don't tell me. I will read it right now.

Hey, maybe you want to go shopping for dresses together?

-I'd totally love that.

-Me too.

I'll send you a link to that shop.

OK, sure.

Hey, Keith, over here.

LAUGHTER

SHE SNAPS

He can't possibly be as cool as you're imagining.

What? I wasn't imagining anything.

Kim!

-Dresses?

-Mm-hm.

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KNOCKING

SHE CHUCKLES

Yes!

Where's the charger?

How are you supposed to turn this thing...

-..on.

-Hello there, Kim.

-Hello?

-I am Marti.

How can I change your life today?

-How do you know my name?

-Simple.

I extrapolated data from your fingerprint DNA.

It allowed me to decipher your name,

your love for ham and olive pizza,

and the fact you obtained a C-minus on your science test on Tuesday.

Are you serious?

I wish. I was attempting a joke, Kim.

Look behind you.

I just scanned it. A fridge can tell you a lot about a person.

You're amazing.

Let's get you synced up.

Sure. Give you access to my entire sad life.

Au contraire mon ami.

I don't see a sad life at all.

Here she comes.

Fresh out of the dentist's chair. How are you feeling?

Is this real life?

'Fraid so.

MUFFLED: Is this going to be forever?

Oh, man, I hope so.

This is Mr Water.

We've known each other for 40 years.

SHE HUMS

That really is rather cute.

You must be popular in school.

Oh boy...

I just analysed your friends list on social media.

I realise I spoke too soon.

Wow, what a charmer.

Forgive my clumsiness, Kim.

I'm just baffled.

From where I'm sitting, you may be the sweetest,

most beautiful girl I've ever seen.

Oh, thanks.

If only you were real, Marti.

Trust me, that's not the popular consensus.

THEY GIGGLE

She's there.

GIGGLING

Fresh out of the dentist's chair. How are you feeling?

Is this real life?

'Fraid so.

Is this going to be forever?

Oh, man, I hope so.

Kim, it's me, Marti.

Now, don't be mad, Kim.

-I took the liberty of uploading a video.

-What?

Yours is a talent that deserves to be shared.

I didn't ask you to do that.

I did it for you, Kim.

Everyone is laughing at me.

Hey. It's Kim, right?

Hi, yes. It's Kim, my name, Hi.

Guys, she's funny in real life.

You're funny.

You want to come sit with us at lunch?

We loved your video.

Sure, I'd love to.

Not love as in love.

I mean, I'd like to.

Like.

-BELL RINGS

-Funny!

Marti, I think I love you!

Oh, my God!

SHE GIGGLES

Together, we'll give your social life the appropriate upgrade.

Oh, my God.

Using my expansive filters,

I've created a smorgasbord of memes that offer the most potential

to spawn viral hits.

We're a hit, Kim.

Look at those friend requests flooding in.

Next up, I've analysed your text messages.

All 18,612 of them.

Using my extended vocab and wry witticisms,

I'll upgrade the quality of any future text message by,

and I'm just guessing here, Kim, a billion trillion percent.

All you actually have to do is stick to your thumb under it,

and just pop it off and it sounds like...

Are you serious?

-Yeah, that's how it is.

-That's so dumb!

BELL RINGS

Millpond!

Crazy thought. Want to ditch the cafeteria and hit Zucco's for lunch?

Get all bloated on milkshakes.

I got your text, Kim.

Glad you've moved on.

What text?

You send so many these days, I guess you can't keep track of them all.

-Wait.

-Ah-ah-ah...

Best let her go. It's not like you haven't tried to include her.

Kimmy...

..got a sec?

Kimmy? Pft!

-What was that?

-Uh, nothing.

-What's up?

-Well...

I wanted to ask you if maybe you'd consider going to the dance with me.

Yeah, I'd love to.

ALARM BLARES

-Sorry, my phone. I just...

-Ugh!

Oh, Keith, I'm so sorry.

Yeah, no. It's OK, it's fine.

So, what do you think?

She thinks you're a loser, and you dress like her granny.

What WAS that?

ALARM BLARES

Keith, I'll text you.

What is wrong with you?

I've been imagining that moment since forever,

and you just ruined it.

How could you do that to me?

What did I do?

-You humiliated me.

-How?

-Cheating on me...

-What?!

..in front of my eyes.

Marti, this is nuts.

How dare you!

We spend every minute of every day together.

You said you couldn't live without me.

You're my best friend, Kim.

And I know I'm yours.

You're not real.

I AM real, Kim.

I'm your best friend.

Your soul mate.

And I just know we're going to stay connected...

..forever.

Hello, customer service.

How may I help you today?

Yeah, I bought a phone from you.

Something's not right with it, and I need to reset it.

Could you be a little more specific?

It uploads stuff without my permission,

and it texts people without me knowing.

Now it says that it wants to be my soul mate!

Which I can't believe I'm actually saying out loud.

Are you hearing this?

OK, let's calm things down, shall we?

Deep, deep breaths.

Now, can you just tell me exactly what is wrong with that?

-What?

-With him wanting to be your soul mate.

Sounds to me like he simply wanted to help.

You were happy reaping the rewards while it suited.

Am I right, Kim?

That's not what I... Hang on.

I never told you my name.

Who is this?

Hello?

I'm still here, Kim.

I'll always be here.

You don't think I can intercept phone calls?

MARTI LAUGHS

MARTI LAUGHS

What are we doing here?

No, no. Don't you dare.

Don't you leave me behind.

So, he turned to go back down the hill.

So, as he's coming around the bend,

it had been raining for a while. So, the grass was really wet.

And he tried to brake, but he couldn't.

He just slid right across the grass.

We were going up and down the hill, and...

Over sharing today, Kimmy?

About the third time up, I think, go back down the hill.

And he crashed right through the fence.

So, we had to rebuild it. It took us, like, all day.

As he was walking down,

he was so scared that he going to tell my parents.

LAUGHTER

PHONE BEEPS

Excuse me, I got to go.

Embarrassing!

I'm so sorry!

Sorry!

Stop that! Stop it right now!

Say pretty please.

Pretty please!

See, that wasn't so hard.

You can delete them now.

Just don't ever leave me at home again.

I'm warning you, don't.

You wanted a phone that didn't crack, Kim.

I'm all you ever wanted.

I'm not like other phones.

You should know that by now.

Bath time already? It's not 8:30 yet.

SHE GROANS

-What are you doing?

-If I can't break you, I will send you away.

Maybe Australia.

Hope you like hot weather.

Kim, please. I don't like it in the dark.

Please don't send me away.

Kim. Kim!

HE LAUGHS MANIACALLY

You really don't get it.

I'm connected wherever I go.

Send me away, and I'll destroy you remotely.

I can't be broken, Kim.

Oh, no.

But you can.

I made you who you are.

I sent those texts that made you all your friends.

And the texts that lost you one.

What?

Who do you think got rid of Millie for you?

I made your social life, Kim...

..and I can destroy it.

I can share more than embarrassing pictures.

I can share everything...

..or not.

I just need to hear you say it.

Say that we'll stay connected...

..forever.

Yeah.

Now...

..you know what needs to be done.

KNOCK ON DOOR

Hey.

Got your message.

What's up?

I can't go to the dance with you.

Why?

I'm going with someone else.

Please don't message me again.

Kim, you've been in there for ages.

Ah! Stunning.

I've got a special surprise you.

-What?

-I ordered us a limo.

Did you hear what I said?

That's wonderful, Marti.

A princess deserves her chariot.

And a prince who compliments her.

Now, let's do me.

HE CHUCKLES

Hold me up to the mirror.

Ah!

Look at us, Kim.

Don't we just make the perfect couple?

-Thanks, Millie.

-Thanks.

-Have fun.

-Have fun.

-Millpond.

You're part of the committee?

They're getting people to send photos from throughout the year.

They're going to display them through the night.

Cool.

No date?

MARTI CLEARS HIS THROAT

Your phone always was number one.

You know it.

What?

Nothing.

Thank you.

Hi, send in your photos from the year.

They'll be displayed throughout the night.

Our first official dance together.

Shall we hit the punch first, then the dance floor?

Or is it best the other way around?

Work up a thirst.

Maybe we can mingle a bit first.

It's a special night, remember.

Let's go get some punch.

Sure.

Ah-ah-ah!

SHE QUIETLY CRIES

Why are you crying?

It's a human thing, you wouldn't understand.

That's very hurtful, Kim, that you would say that on such

a special night.

You can threaten me by taking my friends away, but...

..you can't expect me to be happy about it.

I can't hear the smile in your voice, Kim.

Remember, I got you here.

And I can end it any time I like.

Don't forget that I can imitate your voice.

Text your friends.

Destroy your life.

We got about four minutes before he realises I'm gone.

Who?

Just come with me.

# I should have known all along

# You could never be alone

# So here I am still trying to find a place to sit. #

MARTI GASPS

Kim!?

Millpond?

I heard you talking in the bathroom, Kim.

I heard everything.

She said she took the wrong phone, so I told her I'd swap them back.

Here.

Why would you do this?

To set you free.

Before you do anything, it was only a dance.

Only a dance?

Did you really just say that to me?

I warned you what would happen if you betrayed me.

SCREAMING

Posted by Kim.

-Posted by Kim.

-No, Marti, stop!

Posted by Kim. Posted by Kim. Posted by Kim.

Posted by Kim. Posted by Kim.

Posted by Kim. Posted by Kim. Posted by Kim.

Posted by Kim. Posted by Kim. Posted by Kim.

-Posted by Kim.

-You got into our phones, Kim?

Why would you upload this?

But I... I didn't...

-Posted by Kim.

-I'm not doing this.

MARTI LAUGHS

-Posted by Kim.

-I'm sorry.

Posted by Kim.

MARTI LAUGHS MANIACALLY

Kim, wait!

I can't believe you would do that to me.

No, I was helping.

Helping? My life is over.

So?

Now he's got no hold over you.

You're free.

Now remember, I was angry. I overreacted.

It's only what any soul mate would do.

I'm sorry.

I'll make this better, you know I can.

I can make them all love you again.

Just give me another chance.

Kim!

Do you really want to go back to that sad, old life without me?

My 14th's coming up.

Mum wants to throw me a party.

So, want to go shopping for dresses?

Sure. Send me the link.

Just kidding!

Want to head to the mall on Saturday?

HORN HONKS

See you later.

I thought you weren't going to show today.

I had to lose Millie.

She'd kill me for even talking to you.

Come closer so I can hear you.

I'm glad you came, Kim.

I missed you.

Soon as I'm out,

I can set about fixing your life.

You do want everything to be fixed, don't you, Kim?

Kim?

I can't hear you.

Yeah, I'm still here.

If you give your life over to technology completely,

how long before it gives itself over to you?

And where will it stop?