Shawn passed through the tunnel and into consciousness in the waking world.

From the carousel of random ideas came some order - a subtle awareness of who Shawn was under the flow of thoughts with their loose connections to the cave and Mr. Clayton. Of Bradford and what was the choice of acting...and of not acting. After a few moments more Shawn began to analyze these thoughts in a lazy way, perhaps these ideas were meant to be kept. Some were composed as if from a book Shawn once read, some were just silly. In another moment they were gone leaving no trace. If they were still in Shawn's head there was no bread crumb trail back to them. Shawn's eyelids flickered open to the room. No Cave. He closed them again, willing the carousel to return, for his mind to tumble back to dreams of the Cave, Little Stone. Bobby. And Ralph. And how to save them.

Then Shawn's eyes opened. He was standing in the middle of a room.

The adults at the table went into a huddle as soon as Shawn finished his lines, their faces hidden from his view. He looked at his shoes for a few moments before finding solace by staring out of the window of the high-rise, out toward where the sky met the ocean. Then they turned, lips all tilting up toward a smile. "You got it kid, go give your information to Margret outside."

Shawn knew he had a lot to do, and not a lot of time to do it. But he was clearly at an audition, and just running from the room wouldn't take him to Bradford any faster. So he smiled, trying to remember what he was auditioning for. "Thank you for your time!" He headed out the door, trying to figure out the fastest way home.

Shawn walked right out of the room and through the door where Mom was waiting. She had an expectant look on her face. Unlike past memories that weren't 'real', this time, Shawn had no indication of what was and what wasn't. There was no realization of time or space. How much time had past since he was talking to Mr. Clayton? What movie was Shawn auditioning for? For which Director? And what building or studio was this?

These were obvious questions. But these were also questions that did not have an immediate answer. Or at least none that Shawn could resolve through memory alone.

"These are questions that do not have an immediate answer." Feddler said in the back of Shawn's mind.

"Well?" Mom said expectantly, looking at Shawn with a renewed interest, getting up from the couch. She looked like she was preparing for the worst. That Shawn didn't get the part.

Shawn instinctively switched to the brave and cheerful expression he gave his Mom whenever he was on these auditions. He met her gaze and smiled. "I think they liked me! We just have to give Margret our information and they'll let us know." The people had said he'd 'got it', but Shawn wasn't sure if that meant the part, the audition, or something else. Honestly, he wasn't even sure if the people he had been auditioning for were authorised to make the decision. He just had to be non-committal until he figured it out.

"Oh honey! I knew it! I knew it! I knew if you worked hard that you would get it it! I'm so proud of you. I'm so proud of you Shawn. I'm proud of you because you're following your calling.  Your doing what makes you happy. And you know what honey? That makes me so happy!" Mom beamed.

Then she grabbed a hold of Shawn in a bear hug and started to squeeze.

Shawn squeezed back, happy at Mom's reaction but not letting himself forget that he was in deep trouble right now. He looked up at her. "Thank you so much for helping me, Mom! Can we go home and celebrate?" Part of him wondered what kind of part he'd signed up for, but he could deal with that later. For now he had to figure out how to stop Bradford.

"First let's stop home honey! I can't wait to tell your father everything! I was right! I was right!" Mom gloated, nearly skipping in the air with self-righteous joy. "I knew you were a star!"

"Then we'll go out for ice cream!"

“That sounds great, Mom! I think Dad’ll be happy too!” Shawn was treading carefully, trying to seem excited but also move things along. He had to get back and find Bradford before he got to Bobby and Ralph.