"Get up, lumber workers!" a man over the PA yells, banging pots around. "This is your new foreman, and you've got a new shipment to turn into flat wooden boards."
All of the workers rise from their slumber, some grumbling about the way they were woken.
"What is that terrible noise?" Klaus groans.
"It sounds like someone banging metal pots together," Y/N rubs her sleepy eyes, yawning.
Each worker groans and grumbles about the day ahead of them, all except for Phil of course. They enter the work area. In awe, the children stand and look around at their surroundings for a moment. Their eyes fixate on all the dangerous items in their sight. The children can't help but to think of how a lumber mill isn't a place for kids.
"Hey, lumber midgets! Grab a debarker, and start debarking," a man with a gas mask yells out.
Klaus and Y/N look at each other before grabbing a very weak version of a saw. Violet, Klaus, and Y/N start debarking a log, while Sunny uses her teeth.
"Lunch break," the man announces after several grueling and long hours of hard work.
"I hate log days," Y/N sits down, the Baudelaire's sit with her.
"Five minutes," the man says again.
"Oh boy, a whole five minutes!" Phil chuckles, passing around the box.
"This is gum..." Violet says, taking the box.
"Gum isn't lunch," Klaus says, voice laced with confusion.
"Gum isn't even a snack," Y/N takes the box.
"It's not much, but it's all they will let us eat until dinner time," Phil explains.
"Well, can we use our wages to buy some sandwiches?" Violet asks.
"Lady, we're not paid in wages. We are paid in coupons," a disgruntled man explains.
"That can't be legal," Y/N shakes her head.
"It's not like we have a constitution," Phil chuckles, clearly not seeing what the big deal is.
"If this place is so miserable, why don't you all leave?" Klaus is stunned.
"Lucky Smells is our life. Lucky Smells is our home," all the employees stand up, chanting in unison.
The children turn back around, speaking in a hushed tone with each other.
"We need to find those answers, and get out of here fast," Y/N looks at the other three, who all nod in agreement.
Making their way out, Klaus pulls out the map that was given to them, "According to the map, the mill library should be behind this door."
He pushes the doors open revealing a small, but well stocked library.
"Trying to get out of log day, are ya?" Sir asks from behind them, Charles at his side.
"We just wanted to visit the library on our lunch break, Sir," Y/N explains.
"Nonsense. Lunch breaks are for chewing gum, not for sneaking off to libraries," Sir says. "Now, get back to work!" he leaves.
"If you two are partners, you should be able to stand up for yourself," Violet says to Charles once Sir is out of sight.
"Right well, he had a very terrible childhood," Charles shrugs, starting to shut the door.
"I understand," Klaus narrows his eyes, stepping forward. "I'm having a very terrible childhood right now."
A whistle blows, signaling them back to work. Violet and Sunny head back to the mill, while Klaus stays, glaring at the now shut doors.
"Klaus, come on," Y/N gently tugs on his arm, snapping him out of it.
"Right, sorry. Time to debark more logs, joy," he sighs, walking back.
"What were you thinking?" Y/N asks.
"The new foreman...Phil said he just showed up last night," Klaus looks at the ground.
"You think it's Count Olaf, don't you?" Y/N sighs.
"Do you blame me?" He looks at the girl. "He always finds us and shows up in disguise."
"It is suspicious that we never see his face, and we only ever hear his voice over the loudspeaker," Y/N agrees.
"The mill is noisy, it's probably the only way anyone could ever hear him," Violet reasons. "I know what you're trying to do."
"Keep us safe," Y/N raises her eyebrows.
"No, he's trying to find a reason to leave," Violet sighs. "And we will, I promise. As soon as we clear our parents' names."
"I...I need a new debarker," Klaus walks off.
"I'll get him," Y/N smiles a little at Violet. She follows Klaus, who is going in the opposite way of the debarkers.
"What are you doing?" she asks him.
"Ssh!" Klaus points at the foreman, who is currently snoring. He bends down, and gently starts to lift the leg of the man's pants up. But he wasn't careful enough for the man wakes up. Klaus quickly rises, acting as if nothing happened.
"What are you doing, midgets?" the man says menacingly.
"We...need a new debarker," Klaus says.
"Spoiled brats want a new debarker. Old rusty ones aren't good enough for you, eh? They're over there, rich brats," the foreman holds his arm out, as if he is pointing.
But he isn't pointing. Pointing is typically done by extending the index finger, or any finger in general. In this instance, the man's arm is merely extended.
"Wait..." Klaus narrows his eyes at his arm.
The foreman suddenly shoves Klaus to the ground, knocking his glasses off his face. He then proceeds to stomp on them. A loud crunch alerts Violet.
"Klaus!" Y/N helps the boy up as Violet runs over.
"Whoopsies," the man goes back into his booth.
"You're glasses! They're broken," Violet hands them back to her brother, who tries to see out of them.
Several workers gather around to see what the commotion is.
"The foreman pushed Klaus and smashed his glasses," Y/N says.
"How could I push him when I'm up in this booth? It was probably karma," the foreman sasses.
"Can you see?" Y/N asks Klaus.
"A little," Klaus looks around.
"He'll live. Back to work!" the foreman crosses his arms.
"He can't work if he can't see!" Violet protests.
"Lucky for you, we've got a great optometrist right here in what's left of our town," Phil says cheerfully.
"The building shaped like an eye?" Klaus asks.
"Oh, yeah. Dr. Orwell treats all the workers. You probably saw the coupon in your welcome packet. I better get you there," Phil starts to lead the way.
"I'll be fine," Klaus reassures Y/N when she gives him a worried look. "Maybe I can find some answers." With that, he follows a very cheerful Phil.
