DAY ONE -- 2:50 a.m.

Beacher:
"Where am I? What is this place? How did I get here? Who are you? What's happened to me?"

Southerland:
"Mr. Beacher, please calm down. I'm Doctor Brian Southerland, head clinician here at the Palmar Research Laboratory in Clarksville, Arkansas."

Beacher:
"What am I doing here? I want to get out. Get me the hell out of this place."

Southerland:
"I'm sorry, Mr. Beacher, but we've brought you here for a very important reason. We're doing breakthrough science research and you meet all the parameters for our experiment."

Beacher:
"What do you mean, experiment? I don't want any part of any experiment. Let me out!"

Southerland:
"Your physical parameters are a perfect match for our program. And your social parameters are as well. You're unmarried. You have no close family members. You work for a construction company and are presently not engaged in any construction project. We took the liberty of putting a little something in your drink at the bar earlier tonight, and then we drove you here. You've been unconscious for about four hours."

Beacher:
"Four hours! What time is it?"

Southerland:
"It's about 2:55 in the morning. We've given you some lab clothing and we're keeping the clothes you had and your other belongings safe for you in a locker in the next room."

Beacher:
"Get me out of here! This is ridiculous! You can't lock me up. Let me out now!"

Southerland:
"I'm afraid I can't do that. The procedures are already underway."

Beacher:
"What do you mean, the procedures?"

Southerland:
"We've given you a special injection and you'll be on a special diet, and the protocol has now begun. We can't turn back. That would be dangerous."

Beacher:
"What are you doing to me? What the hell is this protocol?"

Southerland:
"I can't get into that right now, Mr. Beacher. I'll tell you more in a few days, if your reactions and progress are as we anticipate."

Beacher:
"You can't do this to me! Let me out right now!"

Southerland:
"We anticipated there might be a negative initial reaction, and that's why there are bars on your door and windows. If you relax and cooperate with us, everything will be just fine. The whole study should be complete in just a matter of months."

Beacher:
"Months? You're out of your damn mind. I'm not going to stay here a minute longer. I want to call an attorney. Now!"

Southerland:
"I'm sorry, but we can't allow that."

Beacher:
"What do you mean you can't allow that? I have my rights. Where's my cell phone?"

Southerland:
"It's locked up with your other belongings. Really, Mr. Beacher, if you just cooperate, this will be a very fulfilling experience for you. We believe it will be ground-breaking."

Beacher:
"I don't want anything to do with your ground-breaking nonsense, whatever it is. I want out of here! Now! Help! Somebody help me! Let me out!"

Southerland:
"Please, Mr. Beacher, shouting will not help you. We've made accommodations for that. Just work with us and do as we say. And trust us. You're in good care."

Beacher:
"I want something to eat and some water. Bring me some food and water."

Southerland:
"At the proper time, you'll have good food and drink. But not just now. It will be available in accord with a very strict schedule. I think you should have some rest now. I realize that all these developments come as a shock to you, and you're a little puzzled and confused. You can cooperate with us, or we can administer another injection that will calm you down. I'll be back at 8:30 a.m. to give you breakfast, and we can talk some more then."

Beacher:
"You can't just leave me here locked up. I have rights. Get me out of here! Now!"

Southerland:
"Good night, Mr. Beacher. The light will automatically turn out in 15 minutes."

Beacher:
"You can't do this! It's not right!"

Southerland:
"Good night, Mr. Beacher."


DAY ONE -- 8:30 a.m.

Southerland:
"Good morning, Mr. Beacher. I hope you had a good rest. I have breakfast for you: Eggs, sausage, toast, orange juice, just like your regular breakfast. I should mention, however, that in a few days the menu will change somewhat and I'll be bringing you a dish of specially-prepared food items. I think you'll find them tasty and nutritious, but they won't be the same eggs, sausage, toast, and orange juice you're grown accustomed to."

Beacher:
"When are you going to tell me what this imprisonment is all about? When do I get out of here?"

Southerland:
"Well, Mr. Beacher . . . May I call you Kyle? We're going to be together for this entire project. I'd like to call you Kyle. May I?"

Beacher:
"Call me whatever the hell you want. But tell me what's going on."

Southerland:
"Kyle, you are participating in the Manimal Project. It's been funded by the government, Grant 2386481-8C, and it is a high-priority, highly-secret program. The results of our findings with you will have long-ranging implications for the entire country."

Beacher:
"So, what are you doing with me? Or to me? The least you can do is tell me that."

Southerland:
"I'm afraid I can't tell you much more right at this time, but I can tell you we're working with a recently-developed serum that has shown great potential."

Beacher:
"Serum for what?"

Southerland:
"Sorry, I can't tell you any more than that."

Beacher:
"Well then, get the hell out of here so I can eat breakfast."

Southerland:
"Yes, of course, Kyle. And you can have tea or coffee. Your choice. Just signal with the red call button, and an assistant will deliver it to you."


DAY ONE -- 12:30 p.m.

Southerland:
"Lunch time, Kyle. Soup and a sandwich. Along with a chocolate-chip cookie for desert. I hope you're getting along well. Order your drink preference with the call button."

Beacher:
"I don't have a damn thing to do all day long. Don't you have any books, or a TV, or maybe something to write on? I'm bored out of my mind!"

Southerland:
"I don't think that will be necessary in another few days."

Beacher:
"What the hell does that mean?"

Southerland:
"You'll find out very soon."


DAY THIRTEEN -- 8:30 a.m.

Southerland:
"Good Morning, Kyle. Did you sleep well?"

Beacher:
"I slept okay. But I'm starting to feel strange. Really strange. All over. What's happening to me? Why are you giving me meals with foods all mixed up together? Why am I feeling so strange? I've never felt anything like this. And I can't seem to think like I used to. My thoughts just don't come together."

Southerland:
"It's likely a reaction to the serum you've been eating in your meals. There's a measured amount you receive each day."

Beacher:
"What have you been drugging me with? I feel strange all over. What are you doing to me?"

Southerland:
"It won't harm you, Kyle. Yes, we expected you'd feel a little different, a little bit strange. This is all according to plan. Don't worry about it. You should get quite accustomed to the changes in feelings very soon."

Beacher:
"But what will this serum do? What's it for? Why can't you tell me?"

Southerland:
"We can talk about that at another time. Don't worry. Everything is proceeding according to plan."


DAY THIRTY SEVEN -- 8:30 a.m.

Southerland:
"Breakfast time, Kyle. Are you okay?"

Beacher:
"I can't think straight. I want to say . . . , but . . . no words."

Southerland:
"Excellent. The serum is having its intended effect. You are changing. You're proving the serum's effectiveness. This is very exciting."

Beacher:
"I'm not like me now. Hard to think. Body changes. Strange! Can't think."

Southerland:
"Yes, yes, exactly. Mind and body changes are exactly what we're expecting to achieve. You should feel more relaxed, less worried, less concerned. You should be more carefree. You may feel more comfortable with different positions of your body."

Beacher:
"I . . . I. So hard to think."

Southerland:
"Splendid."

Beacher:
"What? I try . . . I . . . So hard to say. What words? I just don't care any more."

Southerland:
"You don't have to care. Your needs are being attended to. Every day is a good day. You have nothing to worry about. Enjoy your life!"

Beacher:
"You feed me. I like food."

Southerland:
"That's great, Kyle. And I like you. We're good friends now. You're doing so very well."

Beacher:
"I think I . . . sleep."

Southerland:
"Have a nice sleep, Kyle."


DAY NINETY TWO -- 8:30 a.m.

Southerland:
"Kyle, come. I have breakfast for you."

Beacher:
"Food. Food good."

Southerland:
"Yes, and today I'm going to tell you more about the Manimal Project. Seventeen years ago, scientists investigated the nature of man and animals, and they discovered there is a substance, call it a hormone for lack of a better word, that differentiates man from animals. Animals have it. Men and women do not. Studies and research have been underway since that discovery to isolate this 'hormone' and then to replicate it. Theories have been postulated that if the hormone can be delivered to humans, along with a proper diet, a human being will slowly transform - evolve, if you will - into an actual animal, we call it a manimal. Of course there is not a complete transformation - there are too many fundamental differences - but a significantly large number of animal characteristics can be established in a man. And you, Kyle, are the first to test out all our theories.

Beacher:
"Water. Want water."

Southerland:
"In a moment, Kyle. You see, with your diet and the serum we've developed, you have proven we can safely and easily change a man into an animal. You no longer feel or act like a human, you feel and act much more like an animal. And the transformation has been easy, and painless. It just took about three months, although the complete transformation will probably take perhaps a year or more."

Beacher:
"Water."

Southerland:
"Your mental capabilities have been degraded from a thinking person into a being with the mental sharpness of a pig or an elephant. You don't know how to add two numbers together now or how to even hold a pencil, but, like so many animals in the wild, you're okay with that. Your needs are few and you find contentment all day with food, drink, and sleep."

Beacher:
"Water."

Southerland:
"Now, let me go through the latest weekly progress report with you, Kyle. You're making such great progress. I'm very proud of you.

Attitude: Generally easy going and contented. Seems to enjoy having his shoulders and neck rubbed. Will lie on back if stomach is scratched.

Vocabulary: Contracting increasingly. Seems less and less interested in talking. Occasional use of bark-like sounds and, infrequently, what might be considered growling.

Appearance: Hair is thickening and growing out quickly all over body. Length is roughly one inch. The fur seems to be developing into a fine, shiny coat.

Clothing: Appears to prefer no clothing. Will remove clothing if dressed by staff.

Toilet Habits: Deteriorating. Wetting and feces found in both room and outside play area. The toilet is no longer used. However, seems to enjoy splashing water from toilet for play.

Grooming: No interest in grooming. Sometimes rolls around in dirt in the play area and appears to enjoy doing that.

Eating Habits: Refuses to use fork or spoon. Comfortable using just hands. At ease drinking from a bowl. Finishes all his meals. Appetite is very good. Licks bowl clean.

Posture: Less use of standing position. Comfortable using all fours for some locomotion. Seems happy just lying for hours at a time on the floor or ground.

Exercise: Enjoys chew toy. Plays with it for up to 25 minutes at a time. Seems more inclined to pant after exercise. Pants with mouth open, sometimes tongue extended.

Olfactory: Increased use of nose. Seems to enjoy sniffing scents in both room and outside play area. Seems anxious to sniff staff members when they are present.

Physical Changes: Indications of the beginning of a tail are observed. Presently, just a bump about one-half inch long just above the anus. Full tail development not expected for at least a year, perhaps longer. Observed beginnings of wagging, however.

Sexual Status: Occasionally plays with genitals. Appears ready and able to engage in sexual activity. Recommend introduction of a female, who has been properly prepared with the serum, to study if mating takes place. And to observe short-term and long-term outcomes.

Overall Status: This subject has reacted to the serum almost exactly as our studies predicted. Phase I can be considered 100 percent successful.

"So, Kyle, this phase of the project is now complete. Phase II begins with further observations of your physical and mental developments and with the introduction of a female. It is expected to take about twelve months. Assuming it, too, is successful, the government will then move ahead with Phase III, distribution. Every water system in the country will be fitted with injection systems to insert the serum into the nation's water supply. In just two years time, we'll have a society with no crime, no hate, no arguments, no disagreements, and no demonstrations. Everyone will be happy and contented. Of course, a small select group of leaders will not take the serum. They will be responsible for running everything and seeing to it the manimals are provided with adequate food, drink, and shelter. And we expect some leaders may wish to actually use one or more of the manimals as pets. Kyle, I think you'd make a fine pet. Maybe you'll be one in the months ahead. And of course the leaders will also be responsible for manimal disposal, as needed."