Author: Ishita Kalra, Dougherty Valley High School
📍San Ramon, CA

Dialogue:

Truman: This is different. Everybody seems to be in on it.

Marlon: I’ve been your best friend since we were seven years old, Truman. The only way we ever made it through school was by cheating on each other’s test papers.

Truman chuckles

Marlon: Jesus, they were identical. But I always felt safe knowing that. ‘Cause whatever the answer was, we were right together and we were wrong together. Remember when I stayed up all night in your tent ‘cause you wanted to play North Pole? And I got pneumonia? You remember that?

Truman: You were out of school for about a month.

Marlon: You’re the closest thing I ever had to a brother, Truman. I know that things haven’t really worked out for either of us like we dreamed they would. I know that feeling when it’s like everything is slipping away and you don’t want to believe it. So you… you look for answers somewhere else, but,”

Christof: Well, the point is, I’d gladly walk into traffic for you

Marlon: Well, the point is, I would gladly step into traffic for you Truman.

Christof: And the last thing I’d ever do is lie to you.

Marlon: And the last thing I’d ever do is lie to you. Think about it, Truman, if everybody’s in on it, I’d have to be in on it too. I’m not in on it, because there is no it.

Truman: So what are you saying, Marlon, the whole thing has been in my head?

Marlon: Not the whole thing, Truman. You were right about one thing.

Truman: What’s that?

Marlon: The thing that started all of this. 

Truman and Marlon see Kirk, Truman’s father who has been presumed dead.

Marlon: Yes, he survived somehow. He’s got quite a story to tell. Go to him.

“This is different,” Truman whispers to Marlon “Everybody seems to be in on it,” Truman says. Replaying in his mind was his recent attempt to leave Seahaven Island and the way in which at every turn, traffic blocking his path, or a train that had just broken down right when he had wanted to use it appeared, perfectly timed to prevent him from being able to leave the island. What “it” was, and what the recent series of strange events he had just witnessed for the first time, or rather noticed for the first time amounted to, he couldn’t surely say, but it was significant enough to make his mind race with doubts of the validity of all of his memories, all of his relationships, and his entire life thus far. 

“I’ve been your best friend since we were seven years old, Truman.” Marlon recounts, interrupting Truman’s train of thought. “The only way we ever made it through school was by cheating on each other’s test papers.”

Truman chuckles slightly. He found himself surprised by the way, even in light of such a possibly earth-shattering discovery, he could still laugh in Marlon’s company. He was brought back to his younger days, and how, when he’d worry about tests or punishments from his mother as child, or worry about getting a job and getting married later in his life, Marlon had always been there for him. Whether Truman needed advice, a distraction, or encouragement, he knew he could always count on Marlon in times of distress.

“Jesus, they were identical.” Marlon continued, still talking about the tests. “But I always felt safe knowing that. ‘Cause whatever the answer was, we were right together and we were wrong together,” Truman whispered the last part of that sentence with him. He agreed with Marlon and was beyond thankful to have him in his life.

Truman was reminded of how he and Marlon had basically grown up together. Throughout their lives, they shared countless laughs, cries, and secrets with one another and created catalogs of unforgettable memories. He turned to look at Marlon for a second and realized that they shared a completely unique bond and could understand each other in a way no one else in the world could begin to comprehend. He almost felt silly for his recent suspicions. Even if someone could orchestrate and maintain an entirely fake world that revolved around Truman, there would be no way for them to fabricate his relationship with Marlon.

“Remember when I stayed up all night in your tent ‘cause you wanted to play North Pole,” Marlon pauses. “And I got pneumonia? You remember that?” Marlon finishes, smiling at Truman.

“You were out of school for about a month,” Truman says through a giggle, matching Marlon’s smile and meeting his eyes. He forgot his previous qualms for a second and sat there smiling, lost in nostalgia with his best friend.

Marlon looks down, “You’re the closest thing I ever had to a brother, Truman,” he confesses

“I know that things haven’t really worked out for either of us like we dreamed they would. I know that feeling when it’s like everything is slipping away and you don’t want to believe it. So you… you look for answers somewhere else, but,” Marlon pauses, awaiting Christof’s direction. 

Christof stares intently into the screen that is recording and filming the pair’s conversation, holding his earpiece to his head. Beside him, his assistants, Chloe and Simeon, equally transfixed by the scene that is playing out, hold their breath awaiting Christof’s what will happen next. 

“Well, the point is, I’d gladly walk into traffic for you,” Christof whispers into the earpiece.

“Well, the point is, I would gladly step into traffic for you Truman,” Marlon repeats, hoping that Christof doesn’t intend to make him prove this to Truman.

“And the last thing I’d ever do is lie to you,” Christof continues, once again in a whisper. He has to control himself to prevent himself from cracking a smile in glee at the scene in front of him, which is sure to bring in record ratings for the show.

“And the last thing I’d ever do is lie to you,” Marlon repeats, hoping that he can invoke enough nostalgia to sedate Truman’s worries and stomp out any doubts that his soundstage of a hometown and his interactions with paid actors and extras were anything other than one-hundred percent authentic. “Think about it, Truman, if everybody’s in on it, I’d have to be in on it too,”

 He pauses to scan Truman’s face, hoping that these strings of words will be enough to convince Truman to disregard the unexplainable series of events he witnessed in the past few days, which caused him to question the fabric of his own existence and the only world he’s ever known. 

 I’m not in on it, because there is no it,” Marlon continues delicately, as if talking to a baby or a wild animal, while still trying to infuse the amount of emotion that will be enough to convince Truman to disregard all logic, and forget his skepticism about the realness of his reality, and give up on his desires to leave Seahaven Island. 

Marlon, Christof, and the rest of the crew watching this scene play out sit in silence, awaiting Truman’s response. 

“So what are you saying, Marlon, the whole thing has been in my head?” Truman finally asks.

Marlon smiles internally, in awe of the power of friendship

Marlon meets his gaze. “Not the whole thing, Truman. You were right about one thing,” he smoothly replies.

“What’s that?” Truman asks.

“The thing that started all of this,” Marlon replies, shifting his gaze to behind Truman. 

Truman looks up in the direction of Marlon’s gaze. A figure stands at the end of the freeway— a homeless man. It is his father, Kirk, who, after being believed to be dead by Truman, has returned. 

“Yes, he survived somehow. He’s got quite a story to tell.” Marlon explains, relieved, feeling as though everything has fallen into place. He helps Truman to his feet.

“Go to him,” Marlon says to Truman, who appears to be transfixed by the figure, through a twinge of guilt, something he felt for the first time on set.