A Dim Valley

Fuck.

Do we have a first aid kit?

That's gross.

Do you want band-aids or an ace bandage?

Ace bandage is cooler.

How's that?

Tighter.

Thanks.

He's a bonafide dipshit.

Do you see this?

Yeah.

Okay, Ian, you're on nets tomorrow.

Al, you're on soil...

It's Albert, actually.

Okay, Albert.

You're on soil detail.

What are you doing?

Mosses and lichens.

Okay, as with all samples, anything you gather

needs to be thoroughly documented onsite.

Okay, that's as well as GPS readings.

Everything needs to be refrigerated promptly.

There's plenty of ethyl acetate and isopropyl alcohol

for kill jars and wet preservation.

What about lab transport?

There's a cooler.

No, who's responsible?

It's up to you two.

Do it together, alternate, it really doesn't matter.

What is this?

It's an ammonite fossil.

I found it near Lockegee Rock 12 years ago, maybe.

- Really? - Mm-hm.

It looks fake.

It's not fake.

Too hot for clothes?

Always.

Sweet dreams.

Goodnight.

Beautiful.

- - 31, 32, 33, 34,

35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40.

Can we have a chat?

What?

We need to have a conference, all of us.

- Now? - If you don't mind.

96, 97, 98, 99.

87, 31, one, two, three,

75, eight, eight, eight, eight, eight.

Thanks.

That butterfly's all you caught?

Yeah.

The wing damage isn't ideal.

The real issue is quantity.

Hm?

Make up for it tonight.

Thank god.

Think you caught enough?

Yeah.

You ever done this guano collection thing?

It sucks.

Hey, how much weed do you have?

Let's do it.

You ready?

Wanna race?

I'm too stoned, man.

I'm stoned too.

And I got a bum knee.

Come on.

If you win, I'll take this shit to the lab tomorrow.

I will.

Damn it.

Are you asleep?

Thirsty?

That's gin and tonic.

Wanna go fishing?

You ever had bluegill?

To eat?

Nope.

Oh, it's good.

Sir, please stop urinating.

I'd appreciate your discretion about this.

Hey, was that weed laced with something last night?

No, just my normal stuff.

I think I hallucinated.

Take it easy next time.

I'll get you back for bail as soon as I can.

Okay.

I've never been arrested before.

Yeah?

Dr. Rumble called the cop a piss ant.

You serious?

And he cried in the drunk tank.

Holy shit.

Can I help you?

Maybe.

I'm Rose, this is Iris.

That's Reed.

Hey.

Do you go to Cumberland Tech?

I'm a graduate student, yeah.

Just like doing field research.

Well, cool.

We went to Boone.

That's the kinda crunchy one.

Mm-hm, no grades.

So what are y'all doing out here?

We're here to fulfill our purpose.

Oh.

What's your purpose?

We don't know yet.

Could be you.

Me?

Could be.

We also camp and hike.

You know, hang out.

No, we were actually just about to go for a swim

if you wanted to join.

Okay.

So how old are you guys, exactly?

We've each lived longer than 10 phoenixes.

One, two, three.

Could you help me reapply?

What is it?

My sunscreen.

I'll burn.

It's cold.

Warm it up with your hands first.

That was like two minutes.

- No way! - Yeah.

Yeah, yeah.

Thanks.

Hey, your beer's getting warm.

Sorry.

Do you like country music?

No.

No, I hate it.

I do too.

Can't smoke in here.

Are you serious?

Yep.

- Since when? - Sorry, buddy.

Thought this was your haunt.

It used to be.

- - Howdy, I'm Jim.

I'm singing "One and Only".

Singing this song for the love of my life, Diane.

Join us?

Come on!

We wanna tell you something,

but you have to answer a question first.