Wallace was staring intensely at the puppets who, only moments ago, were talking to him through the camera. Now, they lay lifeless and discarded on set while the crew set about to break for lunch.
"Wallace?" Angela Turner, one of the show's newest interns but an old friend of his from school, spoke in a soft, concerned voice. "You're spacing again. Are you okay?"
Wallace sucked in a sharp breath. "I don't get it."
"What don't you get?"
"Why can't life be more like the Neighborhood?"
Angela chuckled faintly, but Wallace could hear the concern still. He didn't address it. "Wallace, what's bothering you, really?"
"I mean, couldn't things be that way? In a perfect world? Friends... always being everyone's... best friend. Being loved, and... just the community is so... it's the most."
"The most," she repeated, somewhat confused. "Okay, well... why don't you grab some lunch with me? I'm your friend, aren't I?"
"I need some time to myself."
Angela sighed. "Right, well... just don't mess with the puppets, and... take a break soon. You've been really... weird lately."
"I made a puppet." He said, and at first, she didn't answer him. He had not yet looked up, still staring directly at his felt and feathered friends on set.
"...What?"
"I made my own puppet. I think the show is missing... well, I'm just... going to suggest it to Ronald, you know?"
"You already... made the puppet?"
"I brought it in, too." He finally tore his gaze away, looking into Angela's eyes. Her puffy bangs and long blonde hair reminded him of Julie. She was Julie, almost. "His name is Wally, kind of like me. I mean, I inspired him loosely on... my looks, but he's not me. Um... he's best friends with Barnaby, and -"
"Ronald's not going to go for it. You know that. He's a perfectionist, and this show is his baby. You can't just suggest a brand new puppet!"
"You don't support me."
"I didn't say that. I just... think you should be careful." Big eyes blinked at him in disbelief, the blue shadow that painted her lids making her eyes seem even bigger. "You didn't really... make a puppet, did you?"
He held up a finger, turned, and ran across the soundstage, his shoes clacking against the hard floor. He grabbed his backpack which he had left hidden behind some boxes near the far wall. He pulled out the yellow-felted puppet, the droopy, sleepy eyes looking up at him, the faintest smile in the cut of his mouth. It took weeks of hard work, but the stitching was perfect. He slipped his hand inside the puppet, and everything felt right. It fit him perfectly. He hid behind the boxes and lifted his arm so that Wally could look out over the boxes.
"Hello there! I'm Wally Darling. I'm everybody's best friend. Isn't that just the most?" The Wally puppet spoke in a warm, slow voice. His mouth opened and closed around each syllable, and he cocked his head to the side when he was done speaking.
"Oh. Oh, Wallace, I -"
"It's Wally. I don't know a Wallace, Neighbor."
"I get it, and he's very cute, but - Ronald just isn't going to - I don't want you to get hurt by -"
"I'm not going to get hurt, I'm made of felt and stuffing and things that don't feel pain. It's the most. Do you know what else is the most? I like to paint, Neighbor. I like to paint pictures of all the things I love most in the world. Like, for example, Home. I live inside Home, Neighbor. We're best friends. Just like you and me."
"Right. I... I better just go. I don't... I don't want to play along right now. I'm really worried about you, Wallace."
"Wally," he corrected again, mouth pulling tight to show annoyance. "You can't leave just yet, I haven't told you the best part."
"This isn't funny. In fact, I'm actually kind of creeped out right now."
"That's not very neighborly of you, Neighbor. If you aren't a friend, you don't belong here."
"Stop that, it's... I'm not laughing." Angela crossed her arms and tried to look intimidating, but she looked unnerved. "Wallace, you better not-"
"There isn't a Wallace anymore. And isn't that just the most?" Wally stepped out from behind the boxes, small puppet shoes hitting the ground with tiny clicks.
Angela shrieked. She stepped back, tumbling over the discarded Barnaby head on the floor.
"That isn't very nice of you, Neighbor. When you take a trip to visit your neighbors, you should always look ahead where you're going." Wally chuckled, approaching her slowly. "Now, why are you scared? We've only just met. You haven't even gotten to know me yet!"
She pulled herself from the ground, shaking, turning to the exit, but someone was already standing there. A small, salmon-skinned puppet with an orange button-nose, and poofy blonde hair just like Angela's. The puppet stared up at Angela, the felt eyes devoid of any signs of life, but there she was, all the same as if she had walked to the exit herself. Angela seemed to have lost her words, though her mouth hung open like she meant to speak.
"I think I know you, Neighbor. You're just like my friend, Julie... yes, you are Julie, aren't you?" Wally asked with a smile.
"That's right, Wally!" Julie chirped, giving a small laugh as she straightened out her pink skirt. "You found me! I love playing games."
"It's the most, isn't it?" Wally asked, approaching Julie and the exit. "Let's go find the others together. It'll be fun."
The two puppets walked with their arms linked as they left. As they closed the door behind them, the lights flickered before blacking out completely, and darkness engulfed the now-empty soundstage.