"So, this is what we're going to do," Elizabeth told the others. But before she could continue with her plan, the doorbell rang. "Miranda, could you get that?" she asked.
"Sure," the plain-looking woman said, standing up from the sofa. She walked to the front door and opened it. Outside stood an old man in a white lab coat.
"Sorry to disturb you, ma'am," the old man said. "But I was wondering if ..."
"We're not interested in whatever you're selling," Miranda said, before closing the door.
"Actually, I'm not selling anything," the old man said, causing Miranda to halt the closing of the door. "But it is important that I speak to you." He paused for a moment, looking like he was listening. "Are there others in the house? Because they need to hear what I have to say too."
Miranda was going to tell him that she still wasn't interested, but then the old man mentioned that he was trying to get people to sign a petition to close down the Pussy Kat Klub. Suddenly, Miranda liked what she was hearing. The old man patted his briefcase, saying that he had the petition inside and wanted to get as many signatures as possible. Well, that did it. Miranda let him into the house without a moment's hesitation. She never stopped to think how strange it was that someone would come there with a plan that was so much like the plan being suggested by Elizabeth. Maybe if she had ... well, maybe not. The old man would have just found some other way of getting to them. It was just easier when they allowed him in.
He followed Miranda into the living room, where the four other women looked up with equal looks of confusion and irritation. "Who is this?" Elizabeth demanded.
"There's nothing to worry about," Miranda said. "He just wanted our signatures for ..." She never got to finish her sentence. When the old man was close enough to all five women, he took his spray bottle out of his briefcase and immediately sprayed each woman in the face. It took less than three seconds.
The women seated slumped. Whereas Miranda had to be caught by the old man. He couldn't condition her if she was unconscious from a head injury. He moved her body to the sofa, then ordered all of the women to sit up. After they did, the old man smiled. It was time to begin.
"Can you all hear me?" the old man asked.
"Yes," the five women answered dreamily.
"Good. Now, Elizabeth, Bonnie, Tia, Katie, Miranda ... you will not remember that we had this conversation. But you will remember everything that I tell you to do. And you will follow all my commands. But you will believe that everything I command of you is coming from yourselves. You will believe that everything I tell you to do are your own thoughts, feelings and desires. Do you understand?"
"Yes," they said in unison.
"Good girls." He paused. "You are in a dream. And, when you come out of it, you will have a whole new outlook on life. Tell me you would like that."
"I would like that." Their response was slurred, almost incoherent.
"I want you to answer every question I ask you by saying 'YES'. And, I want you to believe that 'YES' is the right answer to every question. Do you understand?"
"Yes," they said.
