Kidnapped by a Crazy Dollmaker

Transcript

Shush, shush, shush, shush. You can't talk anyways, your throat is so dry it sounds dreadful but, you know, not very doll-like but we're going to fix that. Yes, we are going to fix that.

We are going to make you so lovely. I mean, you're already quite lovely to me but, well, um, I suppose I should introduce myself. I'm Anani.

I'm the town's dollmaker and I saw you, I saw you in the stores, the beauty shops trying to get all these, well, snake oil, if I'm honest, all these promises to have glowing skin and look more youthful and such things like that. Absolutely ridiculous. I, gosh, I don't even know what I'm trying to say.

I mean, I'm just so excited to have you here. Um, goodness, it's a bit hard to say. I mean, oh, you're figuring things out, or at least you're trying to.

I can see how confused you look. It's charming, it is. Um, to have such an expressive doll, that's very rare.

I mean, I've tried to make my dolls look more expressive but it's very difficult, especially with their proportions. If you do the wrong little detail it can make it look creepy and that's just, hmm? Oh, well, um, hmm.

I saw you, as I said, I saw you and I thought that you looked exactly like a doll I wanted as a little girl. But my mother wouldn't let me have it. And I have a bit of resentment.

Oh, goodness, what am I saying? You don't need to know about my feelings towards my own mother. That's none of your business.

And besides that, it's irrelevant. The point is, you reminded me of something I really, really wanted and something I've wanted since I was little. And I, well, I'm an adult now, so I figured, why not make my dream come true? And again, I saw you just going from store to store, looking for quick fixes, things to make you more beautiful, and it just broke my heart, if I'm honest.

It really did. Because you're just so, you're already doll-like to me. I mean, obviously, you don't see it, but your proportions are perfect.

And I just thought, if I could show you just how lovely you are, well, maybe you wouldn't mind being my doll. Stop trying to speak so much. I mean, I'm not trying to be rude, but when your mouth is dry, your voice sounds awful, awful, awful.

And, well, goodness. I know, I say that a lot, but I'm just so overwhelmed. I mean, I'm excited to have you.

I've wanted a doll like you, like I said, since I was a little girl. But I know, I know, I know, you are probably not so thrilled about this, but you'll get used to it. Well, I'm trying to decide what I want to do first.

I think I should dress you up, do your makeup, get some lashes on you, curl your hair, you know, to be bouncy like those old Victorian dolls. I love all kinds of dolls, by the way, primarily porcelain, but also Raggedy Ann dolls have always just had a little special place in my heart. Just dolls in general.

I mean, I am a doll maker. Of course, I love them all, but oh, goodness. Oh, don't cough so hard.

Ah, your voice. That's something we need to work on. Maybe eventually I'll see about teaching you how to sing.

That would be lovely. I mean, singing dolls, absolutely wonderful. And one that's expressive would be even better.

Just the look on your face. Lovely, absolutely lovely. Realistic.

Yes, that's the word I'm looking for. Realistic. You know, you don't just smile and blink.

You, you, well, you have a range of emotions, certainly. Okay, now back to what I was saying. I want to dress you up.

And I mean, I kind of already have while you were unconscious and while I sort of just put a little something in your body to make your movements quite stiff. See, I didn't want you running away. But it's not just that.

I didn't want you to move very much. I mean, dolls, I have a particular vision for you. I want you to be as doll-like as possible.

So I do want you to still be able to move, but limited. That's why your muscles are so stiff right now. And so I can pose you.

You'll still be able to reach for things, grab them, sort of, but um, you know, no running. Absolutely no running. And getting out of the chair you're in will be very difficult.

You'll probably fall over. But that's why I'm here to help you to pose you to doll you up. Let's get to that.

Let's see, I have quite a bit of makeup. I mean, I quite like it. I've struggled with it.

If I'm honest, it's it takes a lot of learning when you're putting makeup on yourself. But me, I mean, I've been painting dolls for ages. So this shouldn't be too difficult.

I mean, you're not made of porcelain, obviously. But at the same time, well, your features, you know, doll-like, as I said, as I said. So now stay still.

Not that you have much of a choice. I just want to take this powder, put it on your face. Stay very still.

Okay. I mean, not as still as you have to be when I do the eyeliner. That's the hardest.

Eyeliner is so difficult for me. But when I'm working on a doll like you, it should be absolutely lovely. Now just very nice, very nice.

Your cheeks are just so beautiful. A bit of blush will go a long way. I know it.

Personally, I never quite use blush on myself. I just don't know where it would fit on my face. But with you, oh, it should be so lovely.

Absolutely wonderful. Give you a more lively look. I mean, you already look quite lively, but even more.

Okay. Now let's see the eyeliner. Oh, wait, wait, wait.

I'm getting things out of order, aren't I? No, no, no. Foundation, the powder, and then I typically do the eyeliner, then lash curling, then mascara, and then the lipstick.

But goodness, I just realized I didn't use a primer. That is such a shame. As much as I love makeup, I don't quite like the prices, and I didn't invest in a full makeup set, primers, setting spray, et cetera.

But goodness, I need to shush. I need to just focus on dolling you up. It's just such a shame you're shaking a bit, maybe from fear, maybe from how stiff your muscles are.

I can help soothe that. After this, we'll have some tea. And while I'm finishing up your makeup, I'm just going to grab this little music box and let it play, and it should soothe you.

Dolls and music boxes just go so, so beautifully together. Now stay still. Very still for the eyeliner.

Especially still for the eyelash curling. And very, very still for the mascara. Yes.

Very still. Perfect eyeliner. I did such a good job.

Now curl your lashes. Be very still. I don't want to poke your eye.

Just a few presses. At the root, and in the middle, and at the tips. Then again at the root, and in the middle, and on the tips.

Then mascara. Stay very still. Don't want to poke your eye.

There we go. Your lashes are just so lovely, just like a doll's. And this will make you even more beautiful.

All right. One eye done. Now the other.

Very lovely. Very nice. And then, yes, a bit of blush.

Just a touch. Don't want to make you look like a clown, do we? Same with the lipstick.

Let me just blend it with my finger. It's okay. I keep my hands very clean.

There we go. Oh, absolutely lovely. You look amazing.

I just knew you would. I mean, I spent so much time picking the makeup for you, thinking about your skin tone, your complexion, the type of skin you have. I take such consideration for the type of dolls I play with, and doll up, and decorate.

I think I have a good attention to detail. That being said, oh, I'm just thinking. Just thinking.

Just thinking. Now then, something more. Ah, I just realized I have not tended to your nails.

My goodness. I am so sorry. And I just said I have great attention to detail, but I overlooked that.

Ridiculous of me. Okay, let's see your hands. It won't hurt a bit.

I'm very careful. Let's see. Yes, a bit of shaping here with my clippers.

Clip, clip, clip. Just a bit of clipping. A bit here, a bit there.

You know, you can tell a lot about people by their hands and nails. Uh, I suppose money only goes so far. It doesn't seem like you've seen a proper nail person, but that's quite fine.

I'll do my best. Now, let's file them. I'm thinking just a nice, rounded shape.

I mean, personally, I'm not a fan of square nails or very long nails. I don't think long nails look good on a doll, but that's me. Just let me file, file, file.

Absolutely lovely. I just love this. I do.

I love bringing out the beauty in things, in dolls. And well, I know, I know I sound crazy, but I do think you are a doll. The doll I've always wanted.

You're so beautiful. Exactly like the doll I saw in the window shop. Really, it's just, uh, beautiful.

Now then, on to the tea. I'd like to have a tea party with you. I always wanted to do that, to have a tea party with someone.

I mean, the dolls are quite lovely. They do keep me company, but they can't actually drink any tea. That would ruin them.

So let's see. Give me a moment. I have such nice tea sets and nobody to share them with, aside from the dolls, of course.

But you know, they can't quite appreciate it now, can they? But I'm sure you can. All right.

Just a moment. Sorry, that's what I want to call you. I want to give you a new name.

Your old name was fine, but it wasn't quite doll-like. Um, Lilybell, though. Absolutely lovely.

I love that name so much. Lilybell. So I'm going to call you Lilybell.

Yes, my favorite doll, Lilybell. That makes me so happy. So, so, so, so happy.

And you'll be fine, I assure you. I take very good care of my dolls. And I realize you have human needs.

You're going to need food and water and, among other things, but I will tend to those things. I think I'm quite good at caring for others. But we'll see.

Trial and error. This is my first time I've thought about having a few other.