Klefty is loosely doodling the gravestones, not minding the overall shapes of each one. She slowly turns to see Bonnie wandering around the graves.
KLEFTY
Hi dear.
BONNIE
...
KLEFTY
...Trying to talk to the spirits again?
Bonnie continues not saying anything. Klefty turns back to her notepad. She continues doodling.
KLEFTY
Well, congrats. Because...
Klefty turns around again and spreads her arms.
KLEFTY (CONT'D)
You're talking to one.
BONNIE
...I can only hear spirits, not see them.
KLEFTY
How smart. Yeah, I'm not a spirit. I am something else though.
An orb sprouts out of Klefty's hair. She twirls the orb around, pushing and indenting it into the head of Popgoes.
KLEFTY
Definitely not human.
BONNIE (annoyed)
Who are you?
KLEFTY
Call me Klefty.
BONNIE
Does that mean anything?
KLEFTY
It used to, but I like to wear it nevertheless.
BONNIE
I'm Bonnie. If you're not human, what are you?
KLEFTY
Call me an Artist. I wander the lands and draw.
BONNIE
Why?
KLEFTY
Why not?
BONNIE
No, I mean, why do you draw gravestones?
KLEFTY
I draw a lot of stuff.
Klefty scrolls through her notebook and flips through a few pages. Drawings of an animatronic cat, a tophat-wearing hedgehog, and Freddy Fazbear fly by.
KLEFTY
It's a fun time waster.
BONNIE
I know.
Klefty stops at a page with drawings of Popgoes the Weasel and his friends living in a forest. Morse is there as well.
BONNIE (troubled)
Huh? I never shared my art with anyone. Did my dad tell you?
KLEFTY
Probably.
BONNIE (disappointed)
I can see Morse. Dad made that one.
KLEFTY
You don't like Morse?
BONNIE
No...
KLEFTY
Yeah, he's like, a bad guy.
BONNIE
I don't wanna say that.
KLEFTY
I meant as in, antagonist.
Half-lidded, Klefty taps at several key rough drawings of Morse.
KLEFTY (CONT'D)
Here, he's making evil robots that look like Popgoes and friends.
BONNIE
Uh-huh.
KLEFTY
He wants to replace Popgoes with those robots.
BONNIE
Why?
KLEFTY
He likes machines more than people.
BONNIE
That sounds silly.
KLEFTY
I know, right?
Bonnie giggles.
BONNIE
I've been wanting to fix dad's Morse with my characters. Maybe a funny villain works.
KLEFTY
Sounds like it'd fit him. Blake is already a technician, so you can't also give him that role.
BONNIE
Yeah!
KLEFTY
(laughs)
Klefty softly shuts her notebook.
KLEFTY
Any luck finding spirits to talk to?
BONNIE
I heard a couple.
KLEFTY
What did they say?
BONNIE
They're a bit angry they died.
KLEFTY
Yeah, I get that.
BONNIE (cheeky)
They're also relieved you're not a stranger danger.
KLEFTY
Yeah, I... get that. Sorry for saying I'm a ghost.
BONNIE
It's okay, you're cool.
Bonnie checks her phone and grimaces.
BONNIE
Sh-shoot, I'm late.
KLEFTY
Mm?
BONNIE
I have to be home.
KLEFTY
I can just send you there.
BONNIE
We're still strangers, Klefty...
KLEFTY (sarcastic)
Duh, of course. But watch this.
Klefty finally stands up from a gravestone and repurposes the floating Popgoes head into a portal on the ground. It shows a house.
BONNIE (shocked)
Oh my god! My house! How?
KLEFTY (smug)
Not human, remember?
BONNIE
(laughs) I'll land on my butt if I jump in though.
KLEFTY
It'll be a slight bump. You were just having fun.
BONNIE
Thanks, Klefty.
KLEFTY
See you, Bonnie.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Klefty is hanging off a tree, drawing the myPOPGOES toy Bonnie brought with her.
BONNIE
Won't all that blood go to your head?
KLEFTY
Don't have blood.
BONNIE
Well, isn't it more annoying to draw something upside-down?
KLEFTY
Yeah.
A clicking noise is heard as the area around Klefty's eyes twirls clockwise to be upside down.
KLEFTY (CONT'D)
Happy?
BONNIE
Guess so.
KLEFTY
(laughing)
BONNIE
Oh, dad liked the villain idea. Mom said he even found the idea funny with how I wrote him.
KLEFTY
Sounds like you two patched things up.
BONNIE
Well, you came up with the villain thing.
KLEFTY
Hah, wish I could.
BONNIE
You didn't?
KLEFTY
I draw what's already there!
BONNIE
Sure.
Klefty purposefully falls from the tree. After rearranging her eyes, she brushes away some leaves.
KLEFTY
I can talk to Popgoes himself if you want?
BONNIE (sarcastic)
Yeah okay.
Klefty directs one of her hair balls onto the stump of the tree.
BONNIE (weary)
Klefty.
The ball spins onto the stump fast enough to form a small ring.
BONNIE (CONT'D) (desperate)
Klefty you're not actually going to--
The ring opens up to reveal a woodland forest. You can hear a voice that sounds a lot like Bonnie trying to sound like an adult, singing a pop song in a tone more professional. The forest clears up to show who's singing it.
POPGOES (singing)
I got this crazy feelin' deep inside. When you called and asked to see me tomorrow night!
Klefty looks down and sees Bonnie quietly observing. Wide-eyed. Klefty smiles and shakes her head.
KLEFTY
Yo, Pop!
POPGOES
I'm not a mi– Huh? Oh, didn't think I'd see you again! Who's the young girl with you?
KLEFTY
Hey, Pop. Her name's Bonnie Glade. She's a big fan of you.
POPGOES
Ha, well it's always fun meeting a fan. What's up, I'm Oliver. But you already know me as Popgoes the Weasel, right?
Popgoes lends out a hand through the portal. Bonnie stares at it.
KLEFTY
It's a handshake, dear.
After a few seconds of processing, Bonnie slowly lifts her arm to shake Popgoes' glove-like hand.
POPGOES
I think she's nervous. (laughing)
KLEFTY
It's her first time seeing you.
POPGOES
(laughs) Bonnie, you've got nothing to worry about when I'm around. Trust me.
Wordlessly, Bonnie uses her other arm to feel the other side of Popgoes' hand, brushing her hand against the thin fur in an innocent attempt to feel the muscle and bone.
KLEFTY
...It's her first time seeing you, as a species.
POPGOES
Oh, is that so? Well, uh.
KLEFTY
Anyway, she wanted to know if I came up with Morse being evil.
POPGOES
"Evil"? Well, I wouldn't go that far. Morse... Well, he thought me and the band just didn't work as fast. He wanted to replace us with robots who'd work even faster than us. That, well, we didn't like that. And now, I don't even know where he is now--
BONNIE
WHAT'S YOUR FAVORITE FRUIT?!
(...)
BONNIE (insanely shrunken in)
...Sorry. Uh, what's your... favorite fruit?
POPGOES
Uh, apples mostly. Why?
BONNIE (shy)
I... wanted to know.
KLEFTY
She also wanted to know if you're the real deal, Pop.
POPGOES
Isn't that something? Well, I guess I can tell you my secret. You see this hat? It once belonged to the Freddy Fazbear himself. He gave it to me himself.
Popgoes playfully taps on Bonnie's forehead with the hat.
POPGOES (CONT'D)
That's why I became a singer at the Popgoes Pizzeria.
KLEFTY
You also hate the dark.
POPGOES
Alright let's not delve into that.
Klefty laughs. Bonnie starts crying.
KLEFTY (careful)
Bon, are you alright?
POPGOES
Is something wrong with her?
BONNIE (struggling)
How can this be real?
KLEFTY (cheeky)
Can't explain. Just enjoy it for now.
POPGOES
Her portal thing sure is something... Is it okay if she can cross over?
KLEFTY
I cross over all the time. Seen others do it safely as well. So...
Popgoes extends his hand out. Bonnie grasps it and safely steps over the edges of the portal. Klefty leans over. Bonnie's shock stops her from crying.
POPGOES
You okay?
BONNIE
I can...
She kneels.
BONNIE (CONT'D)
I can feel everything. This smell. It's...
KLEFTY
Feels exactly how you imagined it, huh? (laughs)
BONNIE
I want to... There's so much I want to see. See how I saw it. See if it's also real.
POPGOES
Uh, well, the band's pretty close by. Klefty, is this all right?
KLEFTY
She often hangs out here alone. Bon, dear, at which time should you be home?
BONNIE
Uh, about half past 4. It's 2.
KLEFTY
Okay, makes sense. Pop, I beg you, please be careful with her. She's more fragile than you guys.
POPGOES
There's no way I'd ever hurt her.
KLEFTY
Okay. Bonnie?
BONNIE
Yeah?
KLEFTY
This is a one-time trip, so make the most of it. I'll pick you up at 4, okay?
BONNIE
Okay!
POPGOES
(laughing) So, what do you wanna do first?
BONNIE
Uh, (laughing). I wanna see the pizzeria!
POPGOES
Heh, of course. You know, that place was– (built by…)
The portal shrinks as Popgoes and Bonnie walk further ahead before finally closing. After a brief moment, Klefty picks up the myPOPGOES toy and rattles it a bit.
KLEFTY
Time is pretty subjective down there. Could she be down there longer? Age...?
Klefty moves her eyes onto Bonnie's sketchbook and picks it up. There's an additional drawing now.
KLEFTY (CONT'D)
(positive scoff) Down there she's just as subjective as the others. She won't age.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Klefty rings the doorbell. Not long after, the front door is opened.
BONNIE (confused)
Oh. Uh, hello.
KLEFTY
Evening, Bonnie.
BONNIE
Uh, do I know you? You look familiar.
KLEFTY
You don't remember the weird adventure you had when you were 10?
It takes a second for Bonnie to catch up.
BONNIE
Oh, oooh, Kelsey!
KLEFTY
Klefty
BONNIE
Oh, right, Klefty. I'm so sorry.
KLEFTY
(mumbling to herself) It is a bit of a weird name. (normal tone) I just wanted to see how you were.
BONNIE (laughing)
You know, it was so weird I even trusted you in the first place. You were in full mime make-up at a graveyard. You're still wearing it as well, what's up with that?
KLEFTY
Oh, I'm still at work, but I'm taking a break to talk to you.
BONNIE (toneless)
Your job, huh?
KLEFTY
Travelling.
BONNIE
Well it's a bit annoying just standing here, so please come on in.
KLEFTY
Ah, thanks Bonnie.
BONNIE
You're still so tall all these years later...
KLEFTY (quick)
Yeah, tall, yeah.
Bonnie's living room is best described as organized. Multi-colored expressive plastic figurines with printing line texturing can be seen surrounding the flatscreen TV. Klefty sits on a soft black sofa.
KLEFTY
I don't stain, don't worry.
BONNIE
I'd hope so. (laughing)
Bonnie picks up some empty cans of pop and wrappers to toss them away. She continues talking in the kitchen not far away from the living room.
BONNIE (O.S.)
You know, I still can't fully wrap my head around how you did it. That adventure.
KLEFTY (sing-song)
Well, it took a lot of effort. The characters, the writing, the set. But I don't like to reveal all my secrets. What did you think it was?
Bonnie enters with a pair of pop cans.
BONNIE (serious)
I think it was all real.
Bonnie puts down a can of DatTaste right in front of Klefty.
KLEFTY (faltering)
Real? (composed) Bonnie, you still believe that?
BONNIE
You haven't really made an attempt to make it look fake.
Bonnie takes a sip from her can.
BONNIE (CONT'D)
I thought my father hired an elaborate birthday clown, complete with a whole set, with the budget he got for his contract work. With enough time, I would remember the strings, the seams, the fakeness of it all. But I can still talk to the spirits at the graveyard, and all of them saw what you did.
Klefty faintly smiles and cracks open her can.
BONNIE
You're definitely not human, the closer I look at you now.
KLEFTY
Never said I was back then, dear.
Klefty takes a sip.
BONNIE
Then what are you? Why did you even let me see my characters? Is there a debt I have to pay now?
KLEFTY (disgusted)
Debt?
Klefty gently puts down her can.
KLEFTY (CONT'D)
I'm not the devil.
Klefty holds her hand to interrupt Bonnie.
KLEFTY (CONT'D)
I don't feed on fear as well.
BONNIE (lightly frustrated)
So...?
Klefty picks up her can again and lightly taps on it.
KLEFTY
...I told you this when we met. I travel the world and draw.
BONNIE
That's it?
KLEFTY
No.
BONNIE
Oh my god. Can you please be more honest? Are you working for someone, is that why you actually drew my stuff? Why you drew me?
KLEFTY (distant)
(looking aside) Yes.
BONNIE (confused)
Do you... Do you even know why you're drawing us?
Klefty takes a few seconds to answer.
KLEFTY
No.
BONNIE (lightly angry)
You're kidding. You're sent everywhere, draw everything, but you don't even know why? Why did you even send me to that fantasy world? Is that part of your mission?
Klefty lightly rattles her can.
KLEFTY
Bonnie, you were an outcast. You're the only one who can talk to ghosts. It was within the goodness of my heart to give you that brief bit of respite--don't ever think bureaucracy had a hand in what I did.
BONNIE
Did you do this to other kids? Kids who were even worse off than me? Or was I a special case?
KLEFTY
Just you, and if I explained why, my superiors will kill all of this.
BONNIE
…
KLEFTY (CONT'D)
Bonnie Glade. You're a fantastic investigator, a very realistic one. I wanted to use my mission of drawing you to turn into a proposal for something personal.
BONNIE
What personal?
KLEFTY
Investigating. But I need you to fully finish The Violet Project so I can see if you've got what I want.
BONNIE (despondant)
Okay. Well, draw me then and I'll get back to work working on that.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
KLEFTY
If I can give you one bit of respite. Despite what happened, you're doing a good job so far.
Klefty's face is pointed towards an arcade cabinet of POPGOES: THE DEAD FOREST. The screen is focused on a black Bonnie the Rabbit, the game corrupted to show it's just that enemy.
KLEFTY (CONT'D)
Thanks for haunting the game again so I could talk to you, by the way.
Klefty presses the BLOCK button. The corrupted enemy hits the player.
BONNIE
No problem. It's getting easier haunting things. It's very exciting.
KLEFTY
No bones, no hunger. You have a slight idea of what it's like to be me.
Klefty presses the BLOCK button. The corrupted enemy hits the player.
BONNIE
Haha.... Since I'm a ghost now, I'm probably useless to what you wanted out of me, right? Quite a shame....
KLEFTY
Nah, I can still work with this. But we know you still have some unfinished business. How's your second night been?
Klefty presses the BLOCK button. The corrupted enemy hits the player.
BONNIE
Easier and easier. You know, my dad, Marilyn, and her mother all had to deal with animatronics coming at them. I find it pretty funny that I'm on the side of the animatronics this time....
KLEFTY
A breaking of trends, I suppose. I wish I could help, but the only thing I'm allowed to do is sit on the sidelines and talk. I believe you can do it without my help, though.
Klefty presses ITEMS and eats a PIZZA. The corrupted enemy hits the player.
BONNIE
It'd be unfair, yeah.
KLEFTY
(Frowns a bit at the small dialogue text, but laughs) But yeah, that's all I wanted to say to you. I'll be here for a while--eating your dad's badly generated pizzas--then I'm off.
Klefty presses the BLOCK button. The corrupted enemy hits the player.
BONNIE
It's not THAT bad. But alright, I'll be watching over you as a ghost... If that's all, you can block one more time and I'll release myself from this arcade.
KLEFTY (laughs)
You've been a lovely ghost, Bon. See you.
Klefty presses the JUMP button. The player dodges the corrupted enemy.
BONNIE
See you...
The corrupted enemy is “defeated,” and the arcade screen transitions back to the title screen. “POPGOES: THE DEAD FOREST”. Klefty looks up and smiles, approximating where Bonnie's ghost might be. Klefty then walks away.