A/N: I'll try to do things differently because no one wants to read the same thing, right? Lmao not me adding an extra trigger warning every five minutes.
A sea of colors and incomprehensible shapes.
Int. Dark hallway in Jax's reality
Pomni wakes up to see doors with Jax's portraits.
For a moment, she glances at her hands and scrunches her eyes in disbelief.
With a long inhale, she opens the nearest door.
Ext. Playground, Night
A playground. A small kid Jax sits at a swing.
Pomni walks slowly and sits on the swing next to him.
Pomni
"What are you doing this late at night?"
Child Jax (flinches)
"Why? Are you going to tell on me?"
Pomni
"I promise I won't. I don't even know who your parents are. You can talk to me if you need to."
The stars twinkle overhead.
Child Jax
"I rather be here than home. It's quiet here, and the wind feels nice."
Child Jax
"They wouldn't notice that I'm gone. Mom will always find something to pick at. At first, it's little things. The trash not being taken out earlier, buying the wrong kind of milk, coming home later than usual. She blames him for not being around, and then... he explodes."
He puts his hands to his ears and breaks down in tears. Pomni gets off the swing and hugs him.
Child Jax
"Please. Just let me stay here for a while longer. Give me another ten- no- five more minutes. I promise to go back with you after that."
Pomni
"You can take all the time you need."
A gunshot.
Pomni opens her eyes to find mini Jax's head blown open. Behind her, is a Jax with a smoking gun. His voice echoes in an otherworldly way.
Jax (?)
"What a pathetic crybaby. He can't do anything."
The world fizzes out.
Int. Dark hallway in Jax Reality
Pomni wakes up. The Jax sign on the door she entered is now crossed out in red paint.
She enters the second door. Her right foot glitches.
Int. Living Room
A pink rabbit figure with a teenage Jax and they don't react to Pomni. Jax sees an open package on the table and freezes.
Jax's Mom
"So, who's the lucky girl? You should bring her over some time."
Teen Jax (angered)
"It's none of your business!"
Teen Jax rushes over to grab and cradle the package.
Jax's Mom
"Don't use that tone with me, young man. I've heard it too many times with your father."
Teen Jax
"...Sorry."
Jax's Mom
"It's fine. I'm glad. I've heard some rumors lately about our neighbor, Liam. He's been... seen together in the park with another boy. I don't want to badmouth the Jackson's- Mrs Jackson makes the most delicious blueberry pies. You haven't been hanging out him too much, right?"
Teen Jax
"Uhhh. No?"
Jax's Mom (nods)
"It's just this LGBT fad going around lately. It's been making today's youth confused."
Teen Jax
"I know. You don't have to worry, Mom."
Jax's Mom (sighing)
"I know, I know. You're a big, strong man right now. More of a man than your father. I'm sure that he's enjoying himself, now that he doesn't have to parent."
Jax's Mom goes up to teen Jax and ruffles his hair. Teen Jax pulls away.
Teen Jax
"Alright, Mom, I need to go. Gotta- uh- do my homework."
Jax smiles at his mom, and after her back is turned, rushes to his room and locks the door behind him.
Pomni
"I need to protect him."
Pomni rushes after Teen Jax and realizes that she can phase through the door. Jax leans on the door, breathing heavily.
He unwraps the package, which has a pink bow. He holds it almost reverently, runs his fingers over the edges and the back of the clasp.
He wears it on his head, takes a deep breath, and then steps in front of the mirror.
Teen Jax
"I- I-"
The Jax in the mirror swirls and twists around.
Teen Jax
"AAAAAAAAAH!"
A gunshot rings out. Teen Jax's head pops.
Pomni looks back to see Jax with a rifle, outside of the open window.
Pomni (shocked)
"It's y-you!"
Jax (?)
"Just a boy in a bow, aren't you?"
The world fizzes to nothing.
Int. Dark hallway in Jax Reality
Pomni wakes. Just like before, the Jax sign on the second door is crossed out. Her legs glitch out and she steadies herself.
Pomni enters the third door.
((Scenes showing friendship between Jax, Ribbit and Kaufmo, Jax opening up to Ribbit and then ignoring her, leading to her abstraction and eventually Kaufmo's abstraction.))
Jax opens the door to find an abstraction in Kaufmo's room. His face is blank. He closes the door and walks off.
Int. Circus floor (?)
A distorted, colorful version of the usual circus floor. Pomni, disoriented. Jax with a gun appears.
Jax
"You know everything. I lied, I'm not the funny one, I'm the villain of this show. Ribbit, Kaufmo's abstraction was all because of me. They were too nice and too soft and just wouldn't leave me alone."
Jax laughs.
Jax
"Good o' Leroy. To think that my other self made it out of that deep hole he dug himself into. Plus, it turns out that his mother is still alive. Would've been nice to let me know before he put that mysterious scanner on."
His hand falls for a second. Jax begins hyperventilating.
Jax
"To think that they up and abstracted for nothing."
Jax regains his composure, pointing his gun at Pomni.
Jax
"Why are you here? Do you want to be next? Oh wait. I bet that you're hoping to save me?
In case you forgot: I'm gone, gone. What you're seeing now is like a separated consciousness. A living ghost. The bits and pieces of what your friend 'Jax' used to be."
He whips the gun around towards himself. Pomni's eyes widen in fear and she reaches out.
Jax
"You know as well as me that it's too late. Just... move on."
Pomni looks traumatized. Jax's finger freezes for a second before he scrunches his eyes shut.
Bam! Jax's head is blown off.
Int. Dark hallway in Jax Reality
All doors with Jax's face are crossed out in red paint. A large trapdoor opens from under Pomni and she falls into darkness.
She sits up and is surrounded by abstractions. One of them talks in Jax's voice.
Jax
"Leroy, that asshole. He saddled me with a ton of baggage that I couldn't deal with and then got up and walked away.
Caine says that we can't die in this world. Perhaps abstraction was the closest thing to death. But the truth is, aren't we 'dead' to begin with?"
Jax stops. Pomni sits down to listen.
Jax
"No one is coming for us. Why would they? We're just- just copies of people. Ones and zeroes. There's no jobs or careers or milestones or actual deaths. You're all trying to fix up the circus. When that's done, what's next? Zooble can't open their classy bar, Gangle couldn't publish her manga out to the world, Kinger will never spend time with his wife again and you can't go around exploring ghost-hunting spots.
I thought I'd have the best of it all. I was homeless. I was estranged from my family. I had nothing to lose- and I still missed it.
I miss my mom, and even that poor excuse of a sperm donor.
I used to think that I didn't have a future. I didn't think much of it until it was over."
Pomni
"..."
Jax
"But that's not true either, is it? I- It wasn't the same, but I had a life here. I was lost and confused but- there were people who accepted me, and I threw that away. If this Leroy was here, Kaufmo and Ribbit would've been still-"
Jax chokes up. Pomni reaches out and hugs Jax. Her form is glitching wildly now.
Jax
"I killed them. I ruined my relationships with everyone else, you, Gangle, Zooble, Kinger, Ragatha. I didn't realize it until it was over. Pomni, I'm sorry. For everything."
The Jaxtraction leans into Pomni.
Jax
"It's so dark down here. Please, just stay. Give me a few more minutes."
The silence stretches and feels like forever. Jaxtraction notices that Pomni's figure is starting to become more erratic and glitchy. Jax steels and then flings Pomni away. Pomni reaches out to Jax but is thrown out before the glitch reaches her finger tips.
She starts falling and passes out but she is caught by Zooble's extended arm.
((Same scene of them leading Jax into the tent and Gangle finally cries for Jax))
When the others turn to deal with Jaxtraction, a gloved hand emerges from darkness and snaps, causing the glitchy Pomni to go back to normal.
Int. Circus floor
Pomni wakes up and is surrounded by Kinger, Ragatha, Zooble and Gangle.
Ragatha
"Pomni! If you abstracted, I don't know what I would've- Oh, you're awake."
Gangle rushes up and pulls Pomni into a hug.
Gangle
"You were in a very bad shape. I was so worried!"
The rest join in on the hug.
Kinger (laughs)
"That's our Pomni!"
Pomni
"Awww thanks."
--------------------------------
A/N: The next part is going to be the resolution. This is pretty long, I hope you enjoyed it! Spoiler: I'm not writing Caine's redemption in this rewrite. Mostly 'cause I thought it was too rushed in the original and I wanted to let the main crew to figure things out on their own.
The Amazing Digital Circus Ep. 9 Rewrite Pt.1: Abstraction
Disclaimer: Will have spoilers for the Last Episode (9) of The Amazing Digital Circus!!!
Shortcut to the other parts: Pt. 2
I wrote this to explore different themes for the final episode of TADC. I’m also not a professional so it will not adhere to actual script writing practices. Enjoy!
Content Warning: Allegory for Suicide
Glitch logo appears
It pans up to show a tent in the distance.
“The Amazing Digital Circus” appears in cartoon bubble letters.
Curtains open to reveal the original circus, chaotic and colorful.
The Theme song plays and characters appear on stage when their names are called, looking increasingly anxious or disturbed.
When the lyrics hit “Day after day-” it loops and becomes more distorted and faster every loop.
Int. circus
Cut to Jax’s eyes darting, spiraling, then returning to normal.
Jax, Pomni, Gangle, Zooble and Ragatha are facing Kinger. Everything is monotone and the floor is wide and empty.
Ragatha gives Jax a side eye.
Pomni (hesitant)
“A-are you sure? How did that even happen? There’s no undo or anything?”
Kinger
“I-I-I mean, he was messing with the console as I was working. I-I don’t know how it happened, but before I could try to get him back, the floor opened up and-”
Jax (interrupting)
“-That’s convenient.”
Pomni
“Jax!”
Jax
“What?”
He turns to the others.
Jax
“Are all supposed to forgive this? (points to Kinger) This guy messed up in the worst possible way he could! Now, we have nothing!”
Ragatha
“Jax! Please, just calm down… We’re all- we’re-”
Jax steps towards Kinger and shoves him.
Jax
“Is there anything else you wanna tell us?”
Pomni (angry)
“Jax!”
Jax
“But- He gets to mess up like this and everyone else takes his side?”
Silence.
Jax laughs. Tears form at the corner of his eyes.
Jax
“Fine. This is fine. I’m always the villain, aren’t I? Go, do your own thing. I don’t care about any of your petty opinions anyway.”
Jax walks off. Pomni reaches a hand out but Zooble stops her.
Zooble
“Let him be. He needs time to cool off.”
Kinger shifts uncomfortably.
Ragatha
“Is there something on your mind, Kinger? I don’t think Jax hates you, he’s just lashing out because he’s stressed-”
Kinger
“It’s not that.”
Kinger lets out a long sigh.
Kinger
“I-I can’t keep this from any of you. But I think you might want to sit down for this.”
Alarmed, they slowly lower themselves and sit in a circle, sneaking glances towards each other. Kinger pauses solemnly, then speaks.
Kinger
“Brain scans. Scratch was trying to make a brain scanner. I didn’t think that it actually worked. We didn’t know how to work the files a-and they were impossibly small, given what they’re supposed to be. I saw a folder full of them when I was in Caine’s code. I guess Caine found a way to get them working.”
Ragatha
“That means-”
Zooble
“That isn’t true, is it? No offense but this isn't one of your hallucinations, right?”
Kinger remains silent.
Pomni laughs hollowly.
Pomni
“If that’s true, wouldn’t everything we did be for nothing? Doing adventures day after day? Trying to escape? You can’t tell me that all my memories, goals and feelings are just... lies.”
Pomni squeezes a palm to her chest.
Pomni
“If I’m not real, why does my chest hurt so much?”
Gangle breaks down. Zooble stares into the distance. Ragatha opens her mouth but retracts into herself.
Ragatha
“Hey, could you have misread the label of the file? It was dim in that tent.”
Zooble
“Right, you can’t drop something that heavy without any proof.”
Kinger
“I- You’re right. L-let’s not jump to conclusions. I’ll let Jax know after this-”
Ragatha
“-No.”
Everyone here turns to Ragatha.
Kinger
"Why not?"
Ragatha
“I-I don’t think it’s a good idea. The truth is, Jax doesn’t seem to be mentally… stable lately. If there’s no solid evidence to back this up, there is no point in worrying him.”
Zooble
"I think Jax has every right as us to know, but Ragatha's got a point."
Kinger stands up. As Pomni rights herself, Kinger lends her a hand.
Kinger
“Then that does it."
Pause.
Ragatha
"So... what will we do now?"
Zooble
"Now that Caine's gone, we're free to go as we please. We could look for clues."
Zooble marches on and stops when they spot a chasm that lies across the floor.
Zooble (deadpan)
"Oh. Great."
Kinger
"No, wait, let me handle it."
Kinger conjures up a platform and changes its shape before lowering it slowly across the chasm as a bridge. Zooble looks at it appraisingly while Gangle is awed.
Gangle
"I didn't know that you had special powers."
Kinger (chuckling)
"We all do. It doesn't come to us as easily as Caine, but you can train it. Just relax and let your imagination do the work."
Montage as most of them explore through various places (cameos of Candyland, baseball court and beach) while conjuring more platforms as Jax follows from a distance. They look distracted.
Int. Caine's Office
Pomni, Zooble and Gangle burst into Caine's office and scavenge the area.
Zooble searches through the cabinets. Gangle flips over the couch cushions.
Gangle
"Not even a penny..."
Pomni empties the desk drawers. Printed internet articles fall out and Pomni reads them.
Pomni
"A Guide to Human Entertainment. 'I Have No Mouth and I Must Scream' literary analysis. How to come up with lyrics to a musical number...?"
Lastly, a device falls out of the drawer and all eyes flicker to it. Gangle and Zooble move at once: Gangle whips out her ribbons while Zooble reaches with a mechanical arm.
They collide.
Pomni
"Are you okay? Sorry about that."
Zooble
"I'm fine. You should've been more care-"
Zooble sits up, and blinks when they realize that Gangle's face is inches away from theirs, and she's on top of them. Both of them look away, blushing.
Gangle
"A-ahahah. What Z-zooble said."
Later, they sit around the device- a laptop. Pomni looks around at her friends. Gangle smiles while Zooble nods.
Pomni takes a deep breath and turns it on.
It’s connected to the internet. She finds bookmarked pages: social media pages labelled with names. Suzie J. Ackerman, Zoey Raghavan, Riley Verselis, Grant Best, Abigail Brooks.
Pomni jerks forward with a hand pressing against her head.
Pomni
“Nngh! Abigail… Abigail… Just where have I heard- Ah!”
(flashback)
Abigail (filming)
“Guys, look what I found in this abandoned mansion!”
Abigail
“A dusty computer with a headset? It’s surprisingly modern.”
The moment she puts it on, a beep, then a flash of bright light.
Back in real time, Pomni opens her eyes.
Pomni
“I’m- not Pomni. My real name is-”
She stares hard at the name Abigail Brooke.
Zooble
“I’m sorry, but can you let me see that for a sec? …Holy shit.”
They scroll down the social media feed and click between the pages as their eyes widen.
Gangle (starry eyed)
“I had those OCs for years! There’s an honest-to-goodness manga for them now?”
Zooble
“Check out the date of this post.”
Zooble points to the date underneath a post with a person smiling with a Manhattan Cocktail.
Zooble
“This must’ve been at least two years after I came here. This sounds crazy but I think Kinger may be right. This computer must be connected to the outside. These pages must be made by… us. Our ‘real’ selves. And they're still out there."
Pomni’s eyes start darting and spiraling.
Pomni
“What? WHAT?!”
The screen shows the social media feeds of their real-life counterparts with Pomni’s narration. Meanwhile, scenes of Pomni looking at the computer plays, Pomni, Zooble and Gangle introducing the computer to Kinger, laughing at the screen with Gangle and Zooble, but later she's staring at the screen alone in a dark room.
Narration
“Ragatha, Suzie J. Ackerman. She appears to have left her hometown, cut all communication with her mother, and excelled in her career. She’d made many friends, and it seems like she has a strong, genuine connection with each of them. She seems happy, like she understands who she really is, and that she matters to people.”
“Gangle, Zoey Raghavan. Despite her injuries, she’s made a good recovery in the hospital. She quit her fast food job and has gotten a new job at a small design studio. She even began posting pages of her webcomic online.”
“Zooble, Riley Verselis. After hopping around several jobs, they managed to settle down and open a small bar. It seems to be a successful one. People all over the city come to it as a hip alternative destination where they can feel like themselves free of judgement.”
“Kinger, Grant Best. He’s still working in tech, and is still happily married to his wife, Destiny. They appear to have two daughters together. He looks like he’s a good dad.”
“Pomni, Abigail Brooks. She’s still an accountant, but she seems to have opened up more and is hanging out with new friends more often. She even have some of her friends in her videos with her-”
The screen shows two guys posing on the mansion grounds.
Abigail (recorded)
“Bryan and Cameron are coming along this time! Say hi!”
Int. Office
Pomni
“Hi, Bryan and Cameron.”
Pomni waves at the computer with a far-off gaze and a smile.
Someone enters the room behind her.
Int. Circus floor somewhere
Outside, Ragatha finishes putting down a tile and brushes sweat off her brow. Then, she looks around. Left. Right.
She sneaks, but she bumps into someone.
Ragatha
“Ow! Oh, hey there, Jax.”
Jax
“Hey Ragatha. Where are you disappearing off to? Come on, indulge me hm?”
Ragatha
“Ahahaha. Just the same thing day after day after day. Fixing this place up since Caine is gone-”
Jax takes a step forward and prods Ragatha.
Jax
“Answer the question. Where. The. Hell. Are you all disappearing to?”
Int. Office
The computer switches off.
Pomni (snaps)
“W-What the fuck is that?!"
Kinger (wearing the bucket) holds the unplugged cord.
Kinger
“Sorry, but I had to. I’ve been standing here for a long time, trying to get your attention-”
Pomni
“Give it back! It’s not like the others haven’t had their turn!”
Kinger lifts the cord over his head as Pomni leaps and pushes at Kinger to grab it.
Kinger
“You’re completely addicted. This is not healthy.”
Pomni
“But I- Abby is going to update the Youtube channel at this time every Friday! I can’t miss it. Please, Kinger, I’ll do anything to find out what happens next.”
Suddenly, Pomni keels over and Kinger rushes to steady her. Her face is lined with exhaustion.
Kinger (shocked)
"You need to get some rest, Pomni-"
Pomni (tears up)
“No! This is literally the one thing I look forward to in this soulless dump these days. Can’t you see? Pomni is a character created to exist in continuous limbo until this simulation burns to the ground. My- Abby’s life is ordinary but she’s out there, pursuing her hopes and dreams with an entire future ahead of her. This tiny screen is the only thing that matters. It’s the only thing that’s real.”
Kinger walks up to Pomni and embraces her.
Kinger
“You’re not Abigail.”
Pomni wails harder.
Pomni
"H-how can you say that?"
Kinger
“I’ve never met her. Instead, I’d come to know of and became friends with a strong, kind woman who was willing to lend everyone an ear and managed to earn their trust in return. I may not have known who Abigail was, and my memory does get quite spotty at times, but I do know that Pomni has just as valid of a life as any other and she can be proud of the way she lived.”
Pomni (sniffles)
“Thanks, Kinger. For always being there."
She wipes her face.
Pomni
"Sorry, I didn’t- I didn’t expect to lose myself like this.”
Kinger
“It’s okay. It happens to everyone. Weakness is what makes us human, after all.”
Pomni (thoughtful)
“Right. Human.”
Suddenly, the door bursts open and out comes a pissed Jax followed by Ragatha. The other two nearly jump from shock.
Ragatha
“No!”
Jax
“The gig’s up. What are you guys hiding from me?”
Then, he cracks a wide smile. It fails to hide his intensity.
Jax
“Is it a surprise birthday party? I don’t remember today being my birthday, or the past few weeks.”
He spots the cable that Kinger is holding and snatches it away easily, comically shoves both Pomni and Kinger aside, and turns on the computer.
Jax (cackling)
“This will be good. Just what nasty little secret are you all keeping from-”
He scans the contents of a page. His pupils narrow into pinpricks. His smile falls.
Pomni
“Jax?”
Ragatha
“Jax, I know that this looks bad, but I swear that we are doing this for your sake. We can’t set you off any further-”
Jax answers, slow and deliberate.
Jax
“Can’t set me off any further?”
Ragatha shoves her hands against her mouth.
Kinger
“It’s not that we don’t trust you. It’s difficult to take in this information all at once. We wanted to give you time-"
Jax
“I get it.”
He takes a cursory glance at the monitor and chuckles.
Jax
“So, I was right about everything all along. Great. Just… great.”
He smiles widely and switches off the computer. Then, he strides off.
Pomni rushes after him.
Pomni
“Jax, wait! If you need anything, please, talk to us.”
Jax stops.
Jax (low voice)
“Why should I if none of you wants to talk to me?”
Pomni flinches.
Jax
“I’m fine, Pomni. Why don’t you give that pep talk to someone who wants it?”
Pomni, Ragatha and Kinger rush after him but he’s gone.
Pomni
“Jax…”
Kinger
“I should’ve told him.”
Ragatha
“And I shouldn’t have said those words.”
Pomni
“Let’s meet up with the others. We need to bring Jax back.”
Time passes.
They search for Jax.
Cut to them watching Jax, now abstracted, rampaging along the ground floor as Pomni, Ragatha and Zooble watches, stunned.
Ragatha
“What do we do now?”
Zooble
“What can we do? Of course he’d do this. Of course, he’d disappear and there’s nothing we could do about it.”
Ragatha winces and grips her arm.
Zooble
“That’s just so…! Goddamit, Jax.”
Zooble walks away. They slam a fist into the wall. Then, they slump to the ground next to Gangle.
Gangle
“I’m sorry.”
Zooble
“For what?”
Gangle looks down.
Zooble
“Hey. This isn’t your fault.”
Gangle
“-Why can’t I cry for him?”
Ragatha stands silently with Pomni.
Pomni
“I think we should come up with a- with a plan to-“
Pomni stops. A beat.
Ragatha
“You know… I always thought it should’ve been me.”
Pomni (startled)
“Don’t say that.”
Ragatha
“We were friends once. I-I mean, sort of friends. As much of friends as anybody could have been with Jax. We could talk to each other, at least. But then- what was it? Something like the Snowy Summit. I-I can’t really remember. But something happened between him and her. And…”
She exhales sharply, then forces out.
Ragatha
“Ribbit. Her name… was Ribbit.”
Pomni
“I think I remember you mentioning her name before.”
Ragatha
“I wasn’t supposed to. After Ribbit was gone, I tried to comfort him. He told me to never mention Ribbit’s name again. He made me promise. And I did. I think that’s where our friendship really… finally ended.
I didn’t know the full details, but I knew that something was off between them on the days that lead up to her… abstraction, and in my head, that promise proves it. There’s this nagging thought in the back of my head that grew louder and louder.
I pushed Jax away and tried to keep you two apart, when he was hurting so much. I didn’t want to lose any more friends. You, or Jax. But the one who couldn’t be trusted and was a terrible friend was me.”
Pomni
“Ragatha-“
Pomni puts a hand on Ragatha’s arm.
Pomni
“You were the first real friend I made here. And despite all that… I still consider you my closest friend. You did your best for Jax. I’m sure of it.”
Ragatha laughs weakly.
Ragatha
“I’m glad we’re still fri-“
Pomni hugs Ragatha tightly. Ragatha hugs back and sobs into Pomni’s arms as Pomni pats her back. After a few minutes of silence, they split apart.
Ragatha
“I want to be someone that you- and the others- can trust.”
Pomni
“I trust you, Ragatha. I always had.”
Ragatha looks surprised but smiles as she leaves. Pomni waves and smiles until she leaves. Then, she stops and turns to the abstraction.
Int. Hallway
Pomni stalks Jaxstraction into the hallway. Zoom in to the doors of the abstracted people. Scratch, Ribbit, Queenie, Kaufmo, Jax. She fires a gun at the lights. Every round, the hallways begin to dim further and further, until there is total darkness.
Pomni stands at one end of the hallway. The Jax abstraction lights up at the other. It approaches, slowly.
Pomni raises both arms and hugs the abstraction as she is absorbed.
Read the next part here
-----
Author's Note: The more I rewrite the ending, the more I appreciate the decisions made in the original XD I don't know how I want to spin this because I think Jax's abstraction being permanent was a pretty cool decision. I know that it's controversial because it's a sensitive topic but I'm sort of glad that abstraction isn't something that is resolved easily. The fact that it cant be fixed gives it more weight, y'know?
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