Laddie’s Magical Glowing Balls Of Colored Gas by Richard Stephenson Laddie is a schizophrenic inmate who lives in the violent, obscene environment of a maximum security prison. Delusions swirl in his mind like white corpuscles trying to heal a wound. Laddie takes comfort in owning Magical Glowing Balls of Colored Gas. He also has long conversations with a spider. Laddie’s first person narrative is a challenge. Near the end of his sentence for assault, Laddie allows a therapist named Richard ...
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1. Back on the street Laddie has a conversation with “Mr. Bench”, which he lies on, and “Mr. Tree”. “Mr. Tree” tells Laddie how much he and “Mr. Bench” missed Laddie.
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Laddie tells Richard that the witch, Dr. Silladakarra, poisons people to line his pockets with gold. Laddie tells Richard his Magical Glowing Balls of Colored Gas will stop all wars. Dr. Rossinet tells Richard she is going to release Laddie from prison.
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1. The experimental psychotropic is killing Chou Chou. Laddie sings to comfort her. Garnet is angry about Chou Chou’s death and gives an impassioned speech about the problems with psychiatry.
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1. Laddie tells Richard about the Spider and about Oceans whom Laddie believes is all powerful. Captain Levering talks Laddie into taking a shower. The happy Laddie sings.
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1. Chou Chou, who is suicidal, talks to Laddie. The Spider tells Laddie that Drumgore can help Laddie if Laddie is nice. Laddie has no knowledge that he becomes the powerful, angry Drumgore who is like The Incredible Hulk.
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1. The spider rails at Laddie, telling him to trust Richard. Garnet, the new chef, lectures Laddie on meds, psychiatrists and the Ivy League.
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1. A transvestite named Chou Chou has sex with an inmate. Laddie doesn’t comprehend and sings to comfort Chou Chou who is distraught after the act. Later Richard explains modern psycho analysis to an intern named Taydine.
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1. From a closet near the kitchen, Laddie overhears Dr. Silladakarra talk to the social worker about Laddie and making money on an experimental psychotropic.
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1. Richard, a therapist talks to Laddie. We meet the inmate St. John.
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1. Laddie sings despite threats from inmates trying to sleep. We learn about Laddie’s job in the kitchen.
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Laddie explains how the Magical Glowing Balls of Colored Gas will save the world. The psychiatric staff meets with Laddie who refuses his meds.
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Laddie talks to the Spider about his father. He sings to levitate out of the reach of greedy claws.
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