A bend in space-time (Season 2) - The Umbrella Academy

Chapter 14: Jailhouse Rock

Chronological markers: this scene fits like a deleted scene from The Umbrella Academy, saison 2, épisode 3, around 18:30 (shortly before the start of the on-screen scene in which Ben frightens Brigadier Harris in order to get Ray out of jail).

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Sunday, November 17 1963, 12:37 p.m.

The sky is now entirely blue, without a cloud in sight, as Klaus parks the long Chrysler Imperial Crown berline - which he borrowed from Kitty's garages - in the alley at the side of the police station. I'm still wondering how he manages to maneuver this vehicle, given that he already doesn't have much control over his own limbs, but - at least - I got him not to drive barefoot. He put on horrible ans smelly sandals. Finally, I wonder what I liked better.

My stomach somewhat growling with hunger, I sit in the back seat, having left the front one to Ben. From the outside of the car, people - not able to see ghosts - probably think that Klaus is my driver or something like that, which is highly unlikely, given the way we both look. He turns off the car engine, puts his sunglasses back on, and Ben leans his elbow on the back of his seat, with the expression of a Colonel about to brief his troops. He's worked out the whole plan, and looks like he's about to have a one-in-a-deathtime adventure.

"Okay," he says, opening both his hands flat on the leather of the seat, in a sign that he's about to sum up the strategy.
"Rin, you deal with the one or two cops in the cells wing downstairs, while I handle the one in the front office, in the corridor upstairs. If we scare just one, he'll think he's going nuts. But if there are several witnesses, they'll really freak out.
His air has the intelligence of a Machiavellian in a black hoodie and jacket. He adds:
"Invisibility, immateriality, except what's necessary to interact with objects with our fingertips. No silly booing or Scooby-Doo-like antics: it's disrespectful to real ghosts. Klaus, are you with me?"

Klaus leans his head back and looks at us one after the other. I have the feeling that he felt somewhat robbed by Ben of the rescue mission he had himself proposed to Allison.

"I'm just a lookout as usual," he says. "I'm fine with crashing into the seats, even if they're butt-hurting. I'll find a good reason to be here."
Ben bends toward him.
"You have to materialize my fingers too, got it? Rin will be busy downstairs."
"Yes, yes. Materialize all your extremities, I know."
"Klaus, I'm serious."
"So am I!"
Ben sighs and turns back to me.
"Any way you can perform some scary little light effects for us, Rin?"
I smirk at that.
"Don't worry. If there's anything electronic or mechanical, I'll have fun."

We both seem to be on the same wavelength, no pun intended. After a brief silence, I give Klaus a pat on the shoulder.

"Come on, let's get your brother-in-law out of this hole, and let's make this quick, I've got TVs to fix."

I instantly make myself invisible, so that passers-by only see Klaus getting out of the car. He seems to suddenly realize the relevance of what I've just said. His face lights up for a moment, and - speaking alone in the eyes of the lady walking her poodle nearby - he says:

"Damn, you're so right, he's literally my brother-in-law! I love chestnuts: his name is so much easier to remember than Patrick's. It took me years, and in the end I never saw him..."

The dog lady gives him a wary look, and he cracks her a charming smile as he crosses the street. Ben and I follow, and I look at him: he looks like he's gone on a commando mission, as if he's missed it terribly, even though I know he always hated it, back in his Academy days. Now, however, his ordinarily gloomy expression has turned to mischievous resolution.

Since our travels, I've sensed Ben's immense and paradoxical desire to 'live'. To fall in love, to see the world, to interact with reality and to do things such as what we're experiencing today. I don't know if I'm sad or happy about it. Ben is constantly trying to prove that he exists, sometimes to Klaus's disadvantage, as when he wanted him to stay in San Francisco despite his own life. In a way, he's claiming his right to exist, and I'm afraid he'll be painfully disappointed when reality sets in.