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And to you too
Sir, you ready to leave yet?
What's the hurry, Tony?
What's that you got there, Carl?
Nothin'. There's something I gotta do
This, is the little town of Millerswood
It's actually more like a village, small village
Nothing goes into this quiet community and nothing comes out
To the innocent citizens, time is circular
In every second, every minute, every hour, every day
Time has always proven trustworthy and find itself back to the beginning again
And should always be able in the future
Now these are the Wattersons
They are a family of two since Christmas eve, seven lunar years ago
Dr. Watterson is a surgical doctor
He used to work 20 hours a day, and 353 days a year
His reading glasses have been accumulating dust for keeping them back home for seven years
He used to sleep and the hospital, and never had a chance to see his son
But he wouldn't see his son anyways since he's never at home
Young Jack Watterson, 26 lunar years of age, is a busy boy
Always seemed to have a report to write about or a test to study
He'd rather stay at his biology partner's house
Of course, his girl right next door to his biology partner, so it's a lot more often he can get to see her
But today is different. Today is December 24, 5:11. Ready for Christmas eve
The only holiday of the year that both means a lot to Wattersons senior and junior
What are you still doing with me here? Don't you want to see your family quick
Nah, a little detour wouldn't hurt, partner. Say, where are you going?
Case town. Didn't have time to do it before the due date
Millerswood? That's just a small cut off village. A population of less than 2000. Are you sure you're willing to risk it?
Aren't we all? Listen, this is very important to me. I can't help feeling responsible for them
I just gotta do this, and I'm doing it alone. Do you understand?
I never do. But then, I never did back in the agency
Well friend, this is where we part ways. I'm going south and you're going north
Farewell boss. May we cross paths again
Huh, right on time of course. Hey, you there with the hat
I'm Inspector Carl Gates of the NAA. I've come to check on your humble town
The what?
Nevermind that. Just show me where your people are
Why, at home getting ready of course. With relatives all coming, one's got to clean up one's decent chateau
You people get visitors often?
No, only on special occasions of course. Especially this one. Christmas eve. Don't you folks celebrate Christmas out there?
Christmas? Yes. No. It doesn't matter
How about you? Don't you have to go home and get ready like you said?
Not us. We got no more relatives left. It's just me and pops left. I was just getting some firewood
Do you want to meet my old man? I'm sure he'd like to meet someone from not around here
Lead the way
Jack, don't yell so much. Greetings, I'm Dr. Roger Watterson. Pleased to meet you
Hello. I'm Inspector Carl Gates of the NAA
The what?
Nevermind that
Do you want to go inside? It's cold out
How long are you going to stay here?
Not for long, Doctor. I've got important things to do
Aw, come on. Stay for a while. It's Christmas after all. Be our guest
Well, if you insist
Would you like to have some tea? My family was from Britain and I'd always have afternoon tea
But I reckon it's a little bit too early for afternoon tea, huh, isn't it
I always have my tea at six
No thank you. I wouldn't like any tea
I've got some important news to tell you though and I'm afraid it might take some time
Oh, I'm sure it can wait. It is the most important day of the season. It's not like it's the end of the world is it?
Actually
Jack, he's our guest. Drink tea
Is there anything I can do to help you?
No sir. But could you please tell me about your daily life?
Have you or anyone you know ever left this town? And how do you celebrate Christmas?
I never left this town, Inspector. And I reckon nobody else did too, ever
We are just like the rest of them I guess. Except that it's just young Jack, and this old widower that's left.
Dear Maria died trying to give birth to a daughter seven lunar years ago
We used to invite the Parkers over but they're off to a vacation this Christmas
Doctor, tell me this. And I want you to be honest
Did the Parkers ever come back? And when was the last time you had tea at six
Seven lunar years ago, sir. Time has stopped for us in this modest village.
It's been December 4, 2004. 5:11 pm for seven lunar years now.
Thanks God the moon never stopped or we'd have lost all traditional calendars
That was the year my mother and sister died
Time has stopped you say. But what makes you stop too?
How long have you been preparing for Christmas and it didn't come on time?
Why wait for time? It has never waited for you
Our people have known time as always circular
Every second, every minute, every hour, every day
Time has always proven trustworthy and find itself back to the beginning again
And should always be able to in the future
That's what we're all waiting for, Mr. Gates
Waiting for one day of the lunar year that time will come back to us again.
And we can all celebrate that day with a great feast awaiting for 7 seven years
It will come, Mr. Gates, I have no doubt. Thank you sir, and have a wonderful afternoon
Unfortunately for Senior and Junior Watterson, and the rest of Millerswood, time doesn't just stop
The earth was in constant motion. Rotating on its axis and revolving around the sun
Like a top placed on a cone surface
Seven years ago, or what should've been, the top stopped spinning and going round and round
The sun now has control over the earth and is pulling the top closer and closer its core
Where the top will sink into darkness. Or in the case, rise closer and closer to the blinding heavens
So was that worth the risk boss?
What was? Millerswood?
And what are you still doing here? I thought you went to see your family
Nah. I don't have any family left. No friends too. Just you now
Plus, the traffic was horrifying
I'm all you've got? That's sad, I'm your boss
No you're not. The NAA have been dismissed as well the government of the United States and the rest of the world
Speaking of the world. I was expecting to see a crowd of panicky people behind you like your case in Cleveland
Well, they aren't really part of the world. I didn't tell them
You didn't? I thought you went there to teach them the truth
No, I went to Millerswood to learn. I've never stopped and talked to the people in my case towns
I usually just talked to the mayor. But Millerswood is different
How? They are innocent people. They deserve to know
Innocent? We're all innocent. Why run? Why not embrace it?
We're all going to die in perphaps less than half a year and there's nothing we can do about it. Don't you understand?
I sure don't. But I think I might be starting to
Where are you going now? Canada? Now that you're done?
Who says I'm done? I'm going west
And I'm going with you, Carl
Well then stop talking and start walking. I'm still your boss no matter what you say