Technical Difficulties (A Splatoon Script)

Part 3 - The Truth, Crushes, and Other Things that are Scary

Coral: I can't keep pretending everything's okay! I can't keep acting like the perfectly extroverted and happy-no-matter-what kind of girl everyone wants me to be! I can't keep acting like I'm not TERRIFIED of what's going on! I can't keep trying to PRETEND to be brave! I- I- I- I JUST CAN'T DO THIS ANYMORE!!! (She cries out.)

(Coral cries a little.)

Captain: Is there anything I can do to help?

Coral: I don't know. *sniffle* I'm not sure if Brooke would want me to talk about it.

Captain: Oh. Well, here. I brought a blanket out for you.

Coral: T-thank you. (He puts the blanket over her shoulders and she pulls her knees close.)

Coral: C-can I stay for a while? Please?

Captain: Of course. Stay as long as you would like. (Cakepop starts wheeling up.)

Cakepop: Bleee-ooee? (Cakepop comes to Coral's side and looks sad.)

Coral: [whispered] Good robot. (She puts a hand on top of Cakepop.)

Coral: *sniff* (She wipes her nose.)

Coral: Captain, when you were my age, did these sort of battles make you ever wonder... ever wonder if there was a real point in trying to find love? Or that there was a point in having goals for the future that weren't related to defending the city?

Captain: Can't say that I did. When I was your age, I didn't even have to worry about that. Back then, there was no war. You and the other agents got started much earlier than I ever did. By the time the war started, I was already engaged to a very nice lady, and we already had plans for the future. (Coral raises her head a bit.)

Coral: Oh. (She looks a little glum.)

Captain: Coral? What's going on? (He glances over at her as she tries to look away.)

Coral: It's nothing.

Captain: Something is bothering you, Coral, and I want to help. Talk to me. (They talk.)

Coral: *sigh* Can you keep a secret?

Captain: Of course.

Coral: Like, you promise to not tell ANY of the other agents? You really REALLY promise?

Captain: I promise. You have my word, I won't let a word slip. (He holds his hand out for a pinky promise. Coral doesn't notice, however.)

Coral: Okay. Well, it's just that... a lot of my life, I've never thought that I've had a future. I never thought that I could do something valuable with my life. I never thought about what I could do until Brooke and I auditioned to become the next Inkopolis News stars. (She looks off in the distance.)

Coral: When we got the parts, I started to realize that maybe I could actually have a plan for my future. And maybe I could look forward to things! And I really did for a while, even when I became an agent a few days after starting my job. Being able to share my singing talents with Inkopolis as a star, it feels good. And then, after becoming friends with the agents and realizing that I of all people in the city could help defend Inkopolis, I really thought that I could make a good future for myself. (The Captain listens to her.)

Coral: I never told anyone about them, but I started to have daydreams about my future. You know, like the perfect boyfriend, the perfect wedding, the perfect life we could live together, everything! For a while, I really thought it could all happen. (She cracks a small smile.)

(Her smile disappears.)

Coral: Then, Micki, Nicki, and V came along, most of the agents went away, and I've honestly felt all those daydreams and hopes crumbling away more and more. I keep trying to hold onto them, but the more I try, the more they seem to go away. (She turns away.)