At the zenith of the episode Planet of the Ood, the Doctor says his farewell to the titular aliens.
OOD: And what of you now? Will you stay? There is room in the song for you.
DOCTOR: (Slightly embarrassed) Oh, I've... I've sort of... got a song of my own. Thanks.
OOD: I think your song must end soon.
DOCTOR: (Stops smiling) Meaning?
OOD: EVERY song must end.
DOCTOR: Yeah...
Following the end credits, my mum turned to me and asked, "Is that the end of Tarrant then?"
...
"Eh?" I replied, utterly mystefied and wondering if she thought Steven Pacey was in The Sontaran Strategem.
"Is he leaving at the end of the series?" she explained.
Right. She said, "Tarrant", but she means "Tennant".
But then I was struck that the above discourse had apparently struck her as foreshadowing of a regeneration. As it appears to have struck every single fan on Outpost Gallifrey and Behind the Sofa DESPITE the clear fact DT has been seen filming the finale scene for Season Four and the next Christmas Special. Barring some strange Wormwood-style multiple Doctor chaos, he's still in the show. So once again, an Ood story has cast a completely false shadow over the fate of the main cast. First Rose dying in battle, now the Doctor dying.
I say this because RTD's story arcs have, it seems, completely gone over the heads of my parents. While not hardcore fans like myself, they do enjoy the show and in my youth were able to explain the complicated sequelitis of Destiny of the Daleks to me, as I never saw Genesis of the Daleks. They also firmly knew Season Sixteen as The Key To Time Season, and they were happy to use the phrase "E-Space Trilogy" without a gun pointed to their heads. These were the people who could explain to me what the hell was going on in part four of The Curse of Fenric when the evil Russian dude Ace fancied started bitching about Iceworld, Cybermen, time storms and Lady Peinforte.
But any of the repeated memes?
1. Bad Wolf
I can't really speak for my parents' opinion of Series 1. Basically, they only saw the first two episodes before having to wait for the ABC to screen them. This meant that often their hectic lives would leave them dozing through the episode, knowing I'd tape it, and watching Dalek or The Empty Child was completely out of the question since my near-as-dammit brother Bindie turned up with a bundle of joy called Kiera who screamed, ranted and was so utterly cute the antics of Van Statten or Constantine were ignored. I still don't think they've ever really watched Dalek... after all, when you don't need to be convinced how hard the metal bastards are, a whole episode of them floating up stairs and shooting people doesn't grab the imagination. Also, Eccleston's quitting killed a lot of their enthusiasm for it, especially as they really liked his Doctor.
As for the story arc, it's amazing they didn't register it. Even the freaking obvious ones. When Bad Wolf was spray-painted on the TARDIS, they laughed because it was just some punk spraypainting a police box. Gwenyth freaking out about The Big Bad Wolf didn't garner a reaction. Nor did that bit in Boomtown when the Ninth Doctor screams, "OMG! RUNNING STORY ARC!" as he bounces up and down. Or Rose doing the exact same thing in the next episode. Innumerable times.
Our reception was ruined during the night Parting of the Ways was screened - a fact celebrated by Rage who played Orbital's version of the theme tune that night, followed later by Doctor'n the Tardis. So, at the first opportunity I bought the vanilla DVD, which for various reasons meant the last three episodes of Season 1 were the most they've seen of the whole reboot.
It clearly didn't stick in their memory, for both of them replied "Who?" at the announcement of Captain Jack getting his own show called Torchwood. When I finally got them to WATCH Torchwood, on my computer, turning the room into a mini-theatre, they still didn't recognize him. Despite the fact the only episodes they'd ever properly watched featured him in it, fighting Daleks and snogging the Doctor. They didn't even pick up on the Doctor Who connection, assuming that the references to Cybermen were just one-off gags. Even though the whole bloody show was called...
2. Torchwood
Torchwood was an arc poorly done, we all know that. Despite being even MORE obvious than Bad Wolf, my parents didn't react. They enjoyed the episodes, sure, and actually watched them. Definitely. But Harriet Jones whispering darkly didn't register. Queen Victoria ranting? Nothing. The Torchwood Archive? Not a flicker.
In fact, the only time they seemed to notice the arc word was the ABC ad for Army of Ghost - part of which featured the words DOCTOR WHO breaking up and reassembling as TORCHWOOD. They hadn't noticed that before. Worse, they zoned out halfway through Doomsday. I was amazed when they didn't immediately ask to watch it the next day, since they were delighted that the episode just EXISTED! They had assumed that it was the finale when the Daleks emerged from the sphere, assuming a season cliffhanger.
Nevertheless, despite ALL that, when a show called Torchwood arrived about Captain Jack and alien hunters, they didn't make any connection until Cyberwoman.
3. Mr Saxon
This one has worked, albeit postumously. Since I finally was able to show them episodes at times of their convenience rather than the ABC, they were able to watch the series while getting a re-scheduled Torchwood series to keep them going (for the record it was Everything Changes, Cyberwoman, Countryside, Greeks Bearing Gifts, Out of Time, Ghost Machine, Random Shoes, Small Worlds, Combat, Captain Jack Harkness, End of Days and Day One). They understandably missed the references in Love and Monsters, CJH or The Runaway Bride (though they noticed it on the last viewing).
But all those Vote Saxon posters were overlooked. The Lazarus Experiment's references were vaguely noted... but 42's weren't! It was only with Sound of the Drums they noticed.
Mind you, they got the joke when the next issue of DE came with VS poster. And they got the watch business without necessary explanation. Though the Face of Boe gag was totally lost on them. They had no idea why the Doctor and Martha reacted so much to what they (rightly) assumed to be one of Jack's gags. However, they managed to be surprised when
a) Utopia wasn't the season cliffhanger
b) The Sound of the Drums wasn't the season cliffhanger
c) Niether were the season cliffhanger when they saw it AGAIN on the ABC, and had already seen the rest of the season
Sometimes I wonder if they're just messing with me. Like the time they said they were excited about the TV movie.
Grudging success.
4. Season 4...
But this time... it's difference. The bees they noticed. They twigged the soothsayer sequence as VITAL right away, though I doubt they got the references to the Medusa Cascade or Donna's back. And this ominous note from the Ood all lead up in my parent's minds to...
Season 4 ends with a regeneration!
Yet, scratching my head, I have to wonder... is there a precedent for this?
Eccleston didn't have any real build up to his departure, partially because it wasn't planned and mainly because they were desperate to keep it secret. Niether Paul McGann, Sylvester McCoy or Colin Baker had a chance to do so. My parents, while watching the repeats of the show on the ABC, were startled when the Doctor perished in The Caves of Androzani (mind you, they hadn't watched it before, but my point is they were not expecting him to change any time soon). Tom Baker is an exception as he dressed in red, stopped smiling and hung around with Adric while visiting other universes - but there isn't a cameo of the Watcher in The Liesure Hive, nor does the Doctor mention his ability to regenerate in Full Circle. Jon Pertwee gets an episode of foreshadowing, including a passing Time Lord dying and regenerating to explain it all satisfactorily. The War Games works precisely because, even at the cliffhanger to part nine, there's no hint of what's to come. The Tenth Planet doesn't even manage that, with Hartnell ducking out, as usual, then saying he's feeling knackered in a story full of people feeling knackered. The regeneration is entirely haphazard.
Basically, my parents sometimes baffle me beyond words. They understood entirely the significance of Grey, but never twigged that Captain Spike was the same guy they saw in the first episode...
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12 comments:
I still don't think they've ever really watched Dalek...
They're not missing much.
Also, Eccleston's quitting killed a lot of their enthusiasm for it,
I'm sure that happened to a lot of people. After TEOTW I was often thinking "What am I even watching this loser for?" But then I hated his Doctor anyway...
It clearly didn't stick in their memory, for both of them replied "Who?" at the announcement of Captain Jack getting his own show called Torchwood. When I finally got them to WATCH Torchwood, on my computer, turning the room into a mini-theatre, they still didn't recognize him. Despite the fact the only episodes they'd ever properly watched featured him in it, fighting Daleks and snogging the Doctor. They didn't even pick up on the Doctor Who connection, assuming that the references to Cybermen were just one-off gags.
So what you're saying is that your parents are stoners? (j/k)
Queen Victoria ranting? Nothing.
...how could it NOT? She's screaming at the camera about Torchwood for [what feels like] five minutes. That one scene killed the episode for me because it was so fucking in-your-face.
Worse, they zoned out halfway through Doomsday.
Well, I'm feeling a bit envious about that one..
Nevertheless, despite ALL that, when a show called Torchwood arrived about Captain Jack and alien hunters, they didn't make any connection until Cyberwoman.
...seriously, are they stoners?
Did they also watch the Sarah-Jane Adventures, thinking that it was a completely different Sarah-Jane who had kidnapped K9 and Zen or something?
Everything Changes, Cyberwoman, Countryside, Greeks Bearing Gifts, Out of Time, Ghost Machine, Random Shoes, Small Worlds, Combat, Captain Jack Harkness, End of Days and Day One
Is that to destroy the arc, given the fact that it didn't really mean anything? Interesting order.
but 42's weren't!
Wasn't that the one where the episode ended with Mrs Jones talking to 'Sinister Woman' who was listening to the phonecall through headphones.... actually, just remembering that my mum got that one, but had missed all the previous Saxon references, so I had to explain about 'Sinister Man' at the end of Lazarus, the gigantic "VOTE SAXON" posters everywhere in S&J, the "Mr Saxon is RIGHT!" etc.
Mostly I remember saying "See, that's why she said 'I won't tell you who I voted for'..." and my mum going "Ohhhh!"
These arcs are more trouble than they're worth when it comes to parents...
in Love and Monsters, CJH or The Runaway Bride
A reference in Captain Jack Harkness? Does one of the team just mention "Mr Saxon" or something?
a) Utopia wasn't the season cliffhanger
b) The Sound of the Drums wasn't the season cliffhanger
c) Niether were the season cliffhanger when they saw it AGAIN on the ABC, and had already seen the rest of the season
...stoners. Definitely stoners.
They're not missing much.
...well, like I said, the whole "Dalek rampage" idea is old hat since they'd seen Remembrance of the Daleks.
But you realize how important is when, the very next week there was an exclamaition along the lines of:
"Who the hell is THAT?! Mickey's not WHITE! Do they think we're idiots or something?!"
They had the confused impression Noel Clarke had been recast like Travis and the Doctor calling him "Adam" was just an insult, like "Ricky".
I'm sure that happened to a lot of people. After TEOTW I was often thinking "What am I even watching this loser for?" But then I hated his Doctor anyway...
My mum despises the scene on the bridge where he keeps looking at Jabe, because if he just kept doing the Indiana Jones thing, she might not have burst into flames.
So what you're saying is that your parents are stoners? (j/k)
Well. Yes. Yes they are. But the point is, in the rest of the world and its varied activities, they're frighteningly sharp.
...how could it NOT? She's screaming at the camera about Torchwood for [what feels like] five minutes. That one scene killed the episode for me because it was so fucking in-your-face.
They seemed to have blanked it out for similar reasons, since they clearly enjoyed the rest of the episode, particular the Doctor saying, "Oh, that's beautiful!" about the werewolf and Rose apparently calling Sir Robert's missus "you lazy shit!"
Well, I'm feeling a bit envious about that one..
I'm sure you'll be envious therefore that we had to watch it five times before they made it to the end.
...seriously, are they stoners?
Yeah.
Did they also watch the Sarah-Jane Adventures, thinking that it was a completely different Sarah-Jane who had kidnapped K9 and Zen or something?
No. They like Sarah, and watched and enjoyed all the episodes. In fact, they even noticed the fish lady Sarah was talking to in the first scene was Tosh's girlfriend.
Is that to destroy the arc, given the fact that it didn't really mean anything? Interesting order.
It was in order of eps I could stand.
Wasn't that the one where the episode ended with Mrs Jones talking to 'Sinister Woman' who was listening to the phonecall through headphones.... actually, just remembering that my mum got that one, but had missed all the previous Saxon references, so I had to explain about 'Sinister Man' at the end of Lazarus, the gigantic "VOTE SAXON" posters everywhere in S&J, the "Mr Saxon is RIGHT!" etc.
Mostly I remember saying "See, that's why she said 'I won't tell you who I voted for'..." and my mum going "Ohhhh!"
They did something similar second time they saw it. My dad always asked, "What EXACTLY did the Master tell Martha's mum?" We never find out.
These arcs are more trouble than they're worth when it comes to parents...
Yep.
A reference in Captain Jack Harkness? Does one of the team just mention "Mr Saxon" or something?
The dance hall is covered in Vote Saxon posters (and BAD WOLF graffiti, which my parents DID notice) and Bilis Manger's office has a newspaper headline saying SCHOOLS BACK SAXON. RTD admits that last one was pretty obscure, since you need freeze frame to see it.
...stoners. Definitely stoners.
But they were still smart enough to work out the whole Klein Utterson thing from EPISODE TWO of Jekyll! And they worked out how to defeat the Weeping Angels! And Ghost Light make complete sense!
Maybe WE are the stoners...
"Who the hell is THAT?! Mickey's not WHITE! Do they think we're idiots or something?!"
LMAO!
They had the confused impression Noel Clarke had been recast like Travis and the Doctor calling him "Adam" was just an insult, like "Ricky".
Hmm, are they familiar with Adam Rickitt?
My mum despises the scene on the bridge where he keeps looking at Jabe, because if he just kept doing the Indiana Jones thing, she might not have burst into flames.
Mine too! But then so did I. Yes, she's burning, Eccles. We have established that. Now are you going to cry into your leather jacket or are we going to do something about it?
Well. Yes. Yes they are.
Oh right. Well, so are mine. Let's start a club.
I'm sure you'll be envious therefore that we had to watch it five times before they made it to the end.
Oh, fuck...
They did something similar second time they saw it. My dad always asked, "What EXACTLY did the Master tell Martha's mum?" We never find out.
He shows her a copy of Charles Daniels' episode guide.
The dance hall is covered in Vote Saxon posters (and BAD WOLF graffiti, which my parents DID notice) and Bilis Manger's office has a newspaper headline saying SCHOOLS BACK SAXON.
Ah, of course.
But they were still smart enough to work out the whole Klein Utterson thing from EPISODE TWO of Jekyll!
What? What?!? WHAT?!?
Okay, setting aside the fact that I worked it out after episode six... the fuckers who wrote the Wikipedia page didn't work it out. They refer to Mrs Utterson, who I distinctly recall being named explicitly as such in the episode where they captured Jackman, as 'unnamed American woman' for the whole article. The arseholes on the thread on OG didn't get it. When I explained it to them, they dismissed it as just a fan theory! One of the guys was saying why that was going to be a sequel, because they hadn't been told who 'Klein & Utterson' are! I left that thread in a disugsted rage at their retardation, naturally...
The point is... your parents have out-smarted the entire internet-base of Jekyll followers. Myself included. Bastards.
And they worked out how to defeat the Weeping Angels!
Including the TARDIS bit?
And Ghost Light make complete sense!
Well, I sort of got it... I've only watched it the once.
Maybe WE are the stoners...
Stoned on life...
LMAO!
In fairness, Mickey isn't mentioned and the Doctor keeps saying, "your boyfriend!"
Hmm, are they familiar with Adam Rickitt?
No. I don't take Spara home.
Mine too! But then so did I. Yes, she's burning, Eccles. We have established that. Now are you going to cry into your leather jacket or are we going to do something about it?
At first, I assumed it was just the bootleg copy I had skipping (my copy of Destiny of the Daleks, for example, has the Doctor running to get Romana out of the tube, only to do the exact same thing a moment later, like a time loop). So we let it go until we saw the version on the ABC.
And it was MEANT to be like it!
Oh right. Well, so are mine. Let's start a club.
Maybe not.
Oh, fuck...
"Oh fuck" indeed.
No wonder the ending suddenly made me cry. My brain couldn't cope with the endless repeating of it. I mean, as a bit of braindead Dalek/Cyb carnage, I didn't mind, but... yeesh.
He shows her a copy of Charles Daniels' episode guide.
...good answer.
What? What?!? WHAT?!?
Well, they didn't say that, but they worked out she escaped from the cell by 'turning evil' and when Evil Bitch turned up, they said, "Ah, that's her."
I was convinced they'd be wrong, partially coz I didn't understand it myself.
Okay, setting aside the fact that I worked it out after episode six... the fuckers who wrote the Wikipedia page didn't work it out. They refer to Mrs Utterson, who I distinctly recall being named explicitly as such in the episode where they captured Jackman, as 'unnamed American woman' for the whole article. The arseholes on the thread on OG didn't get it. When I explained it to them, they dismissed it as just a fan theory!
But... it's in the show itself. A fan theory would be exactly HOW her husband died. That she's got an evil side is ON SCREEN!
Dear God, it's like Kaldor City in reverse...
One of the guys was saying why that was going to be a sequel, because they hadn't been told who 'Klein & Utterson' are!
...Seriously? My dad was expecting a gag that they were a branch of Torchwood - since the first ep has Jackman talking about "bad wolves".
I left that thread in a disugsted rage at their retardation, naturally...
I admit, I still don't get how she escaped the cell with no one noticing at the very least unnamed American woman was in the building.
The point is... your parents have out-smarted the entire internet-base of Jekyll followers. Myself included. Bastards.
They took great delight in rubbing my face in the ending, after I spent ep six saying, "No, no, she's a GHOST!!"
Including the TARDIS bit?
Sort of. They said, "Just get a crowd to watch the statues, make them look at each other, end of problem". And when the TARDIS took off without Sally or Nightingale, they instantly worked out what the Doctor was up to.
It was around this point I decided to watch the episodes BEFORE seeing them with my parents, so they couldn't spoil it for me.
Well, I sort of got it... I've only watched it the once.
Did you get every single pop culture reference? Coz they did...
Stoned on life...
I DIDN'T INHALE!!!
I didn't 'get' the Klein/Utterson twist from episode two of Jekyll, but I did suspect something along those lines from the moment of the disappearance from the cell.
Cameron
I still don't get how she got out of the cell - even if Utterson's thumbprint (which we know would be different) could unlock the door, the guard says the door wasn't opened. And Benji says there's no air vent or anything!
My "ghost" theory makes much more sense...
Okay, I can't be arsed to watch it again, but ISTR the guard came in from off camera, suggesting that he was guarding a door to the cells, rather than the cell door itself. So he didn't see anyone go through that.
Sophia unlocks the cell door after changing into Mrs Utterson. She then unlocks another cell that Benjamin knows is empty, or a store cupboard, anything, hides there, waits for Benjamin to call the guard, then slips out.
Or she gets out the way we'd have expected, sees the guard, he's like "What the fuck?" she says "Tell anyone I'm down here I'll tear your scrotum off and choke you to death with it, motherfucker" he says "Okay".
THERE ARE MILLIONS OF POSSIBLE EXPLANATIONS!
OK, that MIGHT work, but it relies on everything we are told on screen - that the door DIDN'T open, that Utterson arrived by PLANE - being a lie. Which I might take except Moffat doesn't THINK that way, and shoves the answers right in your face in everything he writes.
Even Continuity Errors!
BTW, did you get that disc yet?
I might take except Moffat doesn't THINK that way, and shoves the answers right in your face in everything he writes.
Well, he didn't in this one, did he?
Maybe you should PM him on OG with your questions?
Incidentally, on that line of thought, were you as annoyed as I was with a couple of the Doctor's statements on the DVD extra in Blink being far too explicit for people like Larry not to have worked out what was going on. All that "I'm reading it from a transcript" stuff etc...
And the bit where he says "Well, that's the end of the transcript" only it clearly wasn't because the bit where he said "That's the end of the transcript" would BE on the transcript!
BTW, did you get that disc yet?
*Sigh* I knew you were going to ask that. According to my parents the latest it could have arrived was on Thursday.
But on Thursday I was flooded in and the mail never came.
Now I need to wait until Monday.
I'll let you know.
Well, he didn't in this one, did he?
I dunno. Maybe there's a third version (the first one without swearing, the second with swearing, the third explaining that scene)
Maybe you should PM him on OG with your questions?
I'm kind of reluctant to talk to Moffat, actually. Last time we did, on OG, I kind of gave the impression I was a psycho couplings fanatic - one exclaimation mark in the wrong place... - and he did that thing of backing away slowly and changing the subject.
Incidentally, on that line of thought, were you as annoyed as I was with a couple of the Doctor's statements on the DVD extra in Blink being far too explicit for people like Larry not to have worked out what was going on. All that "I'm reading it from a transcript" stuff etc...
Well, I assumed that Larry was relatively 'new' to the Angel Phone Box forum. And it's possible that the obvious solution was suggestion, but turned down by the rest of the forum.
It's like that bit in Dirk Gently where he needs to ask a kid for the obvious solution of a time machine because grown ups automatically dismiss such an idea without thinking.
And the bit where he says "Well, that's the end of the transcript" only it clearly wasn't because the bit where he said "That's the end of the transcript" would BE on the transcript!
Ah, well that's a wibblywobblytimywimy/ontological paradox - the Doctor says "that's the end" because he's still reading the script and the script says "that's the end" because...
Come to think of it, how does the Fifth Doctor know about "timy wimy" when the Tenth only just thinks of it in Blink. Assuming the ontological paradox COUNTS as thinking, but still...
*Sigh* I knew you were going to ask that.
Did you? It's slipped my mind all week.
According to my parents the latest it could have arrived was on Thursday. But on Thursday I was flooded in and the mail never came.
Now I need to wait until Monday.
I'll let you know.
Well, I can get you a new disc, but even best will in the world it'd arrive on Tuesday.
I'm kind of reluctant to talk to Moffat, actually. Last time we did, on OG, I kind of gave the impression I was a psycho couplings fanatic - one exclaimation mark in the wrong place... - and he did that thing of backing away slowly and changing the subject.
Oh, I know the feeling.
I'm also afraid of talking to Peter Anghelides. Seeing as he didn't realise HashishAddict's profile was a joke and genuinely thought my name was Johann Redson and, by extension, that my absolute favourite show was Torchwood. *sigh*
And with Charles Daniels - he very politely turned me down when I sold him the idea of the Tenth Doctor in "The Boy with Flared Pants", where the focus is shifted to Rose, and instead of moments in the life of Madame du Pompadour, it's moments in the life of Kerr Avon.
I still say that spoof would be awesome!
Well, I assumed that Larry was relatively 'new' to the Angel Phone Box forum.
Ah, that explains quite a bit.
It's like that bit in Dirk Gently where he needs to ask a kid for the obvious solution of a time machine because grown ups automatically dismiss such an idea without thinking.
Ah... my favourite scene from a book ever.
"How did you do the trick with the pot?"
"Oh, let's see... I travelled through Greece looking for the man who made it, then one I found him and spent three days sobering him up, I managed to talk him into baking a salt shaker into the clay. Then I just popped back into St Cedd's hall and tried not to bump into myself in the cloakroom. What are you looking at me like that for?"
[Terrible paraphrasing]
Come to think of it, how does the Fifth Doctor know about "timy wimy" when the Tenth only just thinks of it in Blink.
The script needed at least one Moffat meme. It was either that or Davison mention off-hand how much he like bananas.
Well, I can get you a new disc, but even best will in the world it'd arrive on Tuesday.
Yeah, so.. bit pointless, innit?
I'm sure it'll be here. Eventually.
Oh, I know the feeling.
I'm also afraid of talking to Peter Anghelides. Seeing as he didn't realise HashishAddict's profile was a joke and genuinely thought my name was Johann Redson and, by extension, that my absolute favourite show was Torchwood. *sigh*
Be fair, I thought the exact same thing...
And with Charles Daniels - he very politely turned me down when I sold him the idea of the Tenth Doctor in "The Boy with Flared Pants", where the focus is shifted to Rose, and instead of moments in the life of Madame du Pompadour, it's moments in the life of Kerr Avon.
I still say that spoof would be awesome!
Well... I suppose so. Mind you, CD said he's happy to take ideas unless he's actually already sat down and written the spoof himself. So maybe if you'd pitched TBWTFT before he's done The Bitch in the Fridge, he might have taken it.
Mind you, my "Pay Rise of the Cybermen" idea seemed to kill off his enthusiasm for good.
Ah, that explains quite a bit.
He notes he's "got" the T-shirt with "The angels took my phone box", but not that he printed it himself. He might have bought the T-shirt and that lead him to the forum...
Ah... my favourite scene from a book ever.
I love when he admits he kicked the kid for being such a smartass about it.
[Terrible paraphrasing]
Well done, actually.
The script needed at least one Moffat meme. It was either that or Davison mention off-hand how much he like bananas.
Which is more likely than celery. Davo can't stand the stuff...
Yeah, so.. bit pointless, innit?
Ah, but this disc would have an extra episode of Doctor Who, Ashes to Ashes, and maybe Dirk Gently if I haven't got a copy for you already.
I'm sure it'll be here. Eventually.
You're the boss.
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