#interview tapes

Doctor: I’d like to pick up where we left off.

Firefly: What part of ‘off limits’ do you not get?

Doctor: I think you might like to know that I spoke to your sister, Garfield.

Firefly: What?!

Doctor: She’s worried about you. I explained that it would be good for you to see her. Even arrange for her to come to the asylum. 

Firefly: No!

Doctor: You don’t want to see your sister, Garfield?

Firefly: You.. you had no right to do that! To speak to her! Leave her out of this. 

Doctor: Amanda expressed great interest in seeing you. She’s very worried about you Garfield. Does it… upset you to know that? You know she told me about your childhoods. That, before you were taken to the orphanage, your parents would beat you both, but you did all you could to keep her out of it. She told me that you used to hide her away so your parents couldn’t find her. That you took the beatings. 

Firefly: I’m big brother, right? I gotta’ look after her.

Doctor: Even so, you risked your own safety for you sister’s. You took all of her beatings and kept her safe until social services took you away. She even said that you were only person she remembered looking after her. Amanda must mean a lot to you, which is why I find it hard to believe that you don’t want to see her. I think it’s more you don’t want her to see you. To see what you’ve become. 

Firefly: She wouldn’t understand. 

Doctor: Understand what, Garfield? Are you scared that after seeing you she’ll look at you differently? It’s okay if you are, it’s perfectly understandable. 

Firefly: You drive a blue chevy don’t ya? Heard those things can have real faulty ignitions… might cause a fire.. or an explosion. 

Doctor: A..are you threatening me, Garfield?

Firefly: No, doc. Just making an observation. Your shift ends at 6:30 today don’t it? Means that’s five hours away from your car and a lot of things can happen. I mean… you know some of the crazies locked up in this place. 

Doctor: I think… I think that will be all for today. 

Doctor: Taped interview 4, patients name is Garfield Lynns also known as Firefly. Patient suffers from pyromania and pyrophelia. Patient also shows a total disregard for his own safety and others, this is demonstrated with his constant trips to the ER after a time outside the Asylum. Patient has sustained two more burns on his body, side note the patient is receiving on going skin care and treatment in the Medical Pavilion. So, Garfield, now we have that out of the way, how are you feeling?

Firefly: Bored. You know I don’t like these doc’. Being judged, looked at like I’m some sorta’ insect under a microscope. 

Doctor: That’s… not what these sessions are about, Garfield. I’m not here to judge you, I’m here to understand you. To listen to you.

Firefly: *snorts* That’d be a first. You shrinks don’t listen to a thing I say. I’m not crazy… I’m no Joker or Zsasz…

Doctor: No one is saying you are crazy, Garfield, but… well, let’s just say some of your desires are less than.. conventional. You start fires for gratification, yes?

Firefly: You’re the shrink, you tell me.

Doctor: I’d like to hear your view. Why do you enjoy setting fires? Is it the thrill? 

Firefly: Fire is beautiful. It’s a living creature, consumes everything it touches, brings everything crumbling down… it’s beautiful…

Doctor: So, you see fire as a living thing?

Firefly: It is alive. Fire needs oxygen, it needs food, if you give it too much water it drowns. It’s alive and the only thing I’ve ever had in my life. 

Doctor: That’s not strictly true, is it Garfield? You do have a younger sister. Yes, here it says a younger sister by the name Amanda Lynns.

Firefly: I don’t want to talk about her!

Doctor: Why not, Garfield? It says here that as children and even before your incarceration here, you and your sister were very close. Do you not miss her?

Firefly: That’s not any of your goddamn business! 

Doctor: Garfield your sister seems to be the only person you’ve ever managed to create a human attachment to. Everything else… well, the fire seems to consume the rest of your life, but your sister is… important to you, yes? She was younger than you, did you have to take care of her? That must of been a big responsibility.

Firefly: I said I don’t want to talk about it…. About her.. she… she…

Doctor: Going further it says here-

Firefly: Shut up…

Doctor: - It says that you once burned your sister’s arm when you were a boy. 

Firefly: That was an accident! 

Doctor: So you didn’t mean to burn her?

Firefly: No! What kind- what kind of a sicko do you think I am!? She’s my little sister, I’d never hurt her! It was accident, I was just playing with some matches and… she shouldn’t have gotten so close. Next thing I know… her sleeve’s on fire and she’s screaming and.. and crying… I tried to put it out…

Doctor: Was she burned badly?

Firefly: Only second degree burns. Docs said she was lucky. Could’ve been worse. After she got better… I made a promise.

Doctor: And what promise was that?

Part 1

*Tape recorder clicks on*

F.B.: This is an investigation performed by [Redacted] at the behest of one Johnathan Mayer, the current owner of the land Nordstrom Asylum for the Clinically Insane sits on. Note: provide exposition on the history of the Asylum and the history of the family who owned it prior in case file. So, Mr. Mayer, what can you tell me about your reason for bringing me out here?

J.M.: Well, the past few months here we’ve been havin’ a few issues regarding the local kids sneaking in. *the man clears his throat* But not as many of ‘em sneaking out if you catch me.

F.B.: (patient) Is there anything more you could tell me about these disappearances Mr. Mayer?

J.M.: (apprehensive) Oh not much I can think of at the moment. Just that… *he pauses* well this place ain’t right you see? It hasn’t been, not since long before even I was a boy. This is a good town you see, couldn’t be any sort of person doing this. Not in this town.

F.B.: (skeptical) You’re entirely certain of this? I understand that in a small town it might be hard to imagine your neighbor being able to-

J.M.: (cutting in) I’m not playing around missy! This is a safe and good town. No one of us could possibly be responsible for those kids goin’ missing.

F.B.: (Placating) Alright, I understand. And what do you think it could be that’s causing these children to disappear?

J.M.: It’s the kids themselves i’m telling you, little devil worshipers every one of them, you’ve seen what they dug into the walls of that old place.

F.B.: (Flatly) Yes, i’ve seen it. It’s a pentagram Mr. Mayer. They’re pagan protection sigils, even if it was possible you’re not summoning anything with that.

J.M.: You just wait ma’am, you’ll see it. Just like the rest of them.

Doctor Cassidy: Patient interview number two. Madison Hayden also known as Siren from her pop music career, not sure why she would rather be called that now of all times... Oh! -Clears throat- It is April 26th 11:05am. Patient has been reassigned to me from Doctor Montoya. From yesterdays session, Ms. Hayden shown signs antisocial and sociopath tendencies. Further analysis will answer these questions. It is only the second interview... -Door opens and shuts- Good Morning, Ms. Hayden. Shall we? You barely got anywhere with Doctor Montoya yesterday.

Madison: I don't speak to doctors with false documentation.

Doctor: Right... Well I can assure you that I have my degree from Gotham University.

Madison: It's not Stanford. But it'll do. Go on Doctor.

Doctor: So, tell me about your childhood.

Madison: -shifting in her chair- Don't you own a television?

Doctor: I meant something more personal. Not from the show.

Madison: What a typical boring question. Next.

Doctor: Umm okay. What about your parents? They were also your managers. What was that like?

Madison: Greg and Nancy? You probably wanna know how they searched and searched for the perfect daughter in the slums of Gotham, to find a diamond in the rough! -Laughs- Any two bit magazine already has that story. Now that they are gone, I bet its gonna be made into a movie.  

Doctor: That may be a possibility. Your parents were rather famous executive producers in town.

Madison: Oooooo! I wonder if Emma Roberts will play me. Wouldn't that be something? We’re both blonde and sassy for our own good. -She giggles.-

Doctor: Do you think your parents split work and home time evenly?

Madison: -Laughs- Oh! Oh Doc. That’s a good one.

Doctor: So they were more work then play?

Madison: Oh they played alright. Played with my god damned money no less, but no worries, I'll get it back very soon.  

Doctor: Ms. Hayden, you are a patient of Arkham and will be for quite some time until the murder charges have cleared against you, we're talking weeks before a proper trial can be formed. How soon are you-

Madison: They clearly offed themselves. I gave my statement!

Doctor: From which you only wrote. "What a shame." Shame for what?

Madison: The fur coat Nancy was wearing when they shot each other. That was authentic arctic Fox, worth over 5,000 dollars. Utterly worthless now with all the blood.

Doctor Montoya: Patient interview number one. Madison Hayden-Daniels April 25th 10:05am. Ms. Hayden-Daniels has been admitted to Arkham Asylum under stalking charges and suspicion of homicide by the GCPD after the patient was found standing above the bodies of her parents and Managers, Mr. and Mrs. Greg and Nancy Daniels. Even though evidence is pointed towards the couple taking their own lives, the Police thought differently due to Ms. Hayden-Daniels’ strange behavior... I would like to think that it would be from the shock of seeing your own parents like that. I would really hate to put the young starlet away if my findings are false. She really is a sweet girl.. from what I’ve seen on Gotham Entertainment of course.  -Door opens and shuts- Ah. Good Morning, Madison.

Madison: Don’t call me that. -seats herself-

Doctor: Alright -clears throat- Ms. Hayden-Daniels then.

Madison: Don’t call me that either, how forward of you to assume that you know me well enough. If you must call me something, you may call me Ms. Hayden or Siren if you prefer another option. 

Doctor: Oh, yes... Siren. Your stage name. Well, Ms. Hayden if we may start. 

Madison: -Scoffing- Why did you say it like that?

Doctor: What? Say what ‘like that’?

Madison: Don’t play dumb. You know what tone you used when you said my name. -Shuffles in her seat- You’re recording this aren't you? Play back the tape, listen to yourself be a jackass. Go on.

Doctor: Madison I am not going to- 

Madison: Don’t call me that! -Jumps out of her seat, pushing the chair away- I told you, you imbecile! You don’t know me well enough! God, did you steal your degree from a well deserving Doctor? Because I’m having a hard time believing that you earned yours. 

Doctor: -sigh- Ms... Hayden... You are really testing my patience. 

Madison: You’re the one who can’t take simple direction...”Doctor.” 

Doctor:.. I think that we can adjourn at another time.. Guards!

Madison: Waste of time. -is taken away but still heard down the hall- I demand that that man be stripped of his doctorate and to be reassigned to a professional!

Doctor:-speaks directly into mic and sighs.- I fear that this patient is going to be harder to get through to then I thought.