[TAPE CLICKS ON]
(Door slams shut. Quiet shuffling footsteps, a deep sigh.)
ELIAS
There you are, Helen!
HELEN
It's me!
ELIAS
Well? Don't just stand there. Talk me through it.
HELEN
They were a pair of shoes. They make you dance if you put them on, and if you touch someone else they dance too.
ELIAS
Nice surface level observation. What else you got?
HELEN
They were once owned by a duchess. Her husband had an affair, so she sought out cursed objects to get back at him. It's how she ended up with the shoes, but then she ended up becoming a victim of them ultimately, she took her footman with her.
ELIAS
Wonderful. Now, was that so hard?
HELEN
Y-
ELIAS
Final verdict?
HELEN
You're not going to decide?
ELIAS
This is all you. Tell me what you think.
HELEN
To be honest I think it's stupid. I feel a little bad for the footman, but that's what you get for working for a guy with twelve daughters. Also, why didn't she just say something to her husband, or I don't know do something more direct, like kill him?
ELIAS
And?
HELEN
Can I like, eat them? Break them? Whatever it is I am doing?
ELIAS
Can you? Why should you? Give me one good reason. Just one.
HELEN
I mean, them being an unsuspecting object such as a pair of shoes and the ability to spread influence so easily is concerning?
ELIAS
You don't sound very sure of yourself.
HELEN
…
ELIAS
How about you be more direct with me? It's not any different. Just ask me what you want, Helen.
HELEN
Am I doing okay?
ELIAS
You are.
HELEN
Oh.
ELIAS
Helen.
HELEN
Me?
ELIAS
Is it true that you walk here and back every day?
HELEN
I…uh.n-
ELIAS
Don't lie to me.
HELEN
I do.
ELIAS
Would you like a ride?
HELEN
Excuse me?
ELIAS
Would you like a ride home today?
HELEN
Sure?
ELIAS
Sure. That's not really a yes.
HELEN
Okay, uhm, I mean yes, sorry. Fuck, I'm not sorry. I-
ELIAS
It's okay, Helen. I'll see you in a few hours.
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[TAPE CLICKS ON]
(loud breathy sigh)
MARGARET
Glad to hear you're still alive in there! (Her voice is loud and clearly coming from another room.)
HELEN
I wish I wasn't!
MARGARET
What's wrong? Is it your stomach?
HELEN
No. Why would it be my stomach?
MARGARET
I just noticed you spend a bit of time in the bathroom. Nothing to be ashamed of. I totally get it. Carter is lactose intolerant. You should hear him after he-
CARTER
Margaret, leave me out of this!
HELEN
No, it's…I go to the bathroom to cry.
MARGARET
Been there and done that. Wanna talk about it? (Her voice finally lowers, her voice now much closer.)
HELEN
Not particularly.
CARTER
Family problems?
MARGARET
Carter! She said she didn't wanna talk.
HELEN
No, my family is dead.
MARGARET
Lovely. Wonderful. Look what you did, Carter.
CARTER
So, it is or isn't family problems?
HELEN
(She laughs, and it is a high squeaky laugh that quickly gets muffled.) I kind of hate it here.
MARGARET
God, me too. You really get the worst of it too.
HELEN
Yeah, Elias is…
MARGARET
I mean it's so creepy and awful in…did you say, Elias?
HELEN
No. I didn't say nothing.
CARTER
You totally did not.
MARGARET
Are you going to tell us or leave us hanging? Come on now.
HELEN
He's just my evil boss, not much to say.
CARTER
Fair generalization.
MARGARET
Yeah, he probably spends like an hour on his hair every day.
CARTER
You could really ruin his day so easily if you just dosed his coffee or something.
HELEN
I don't think that would be a very good idea.
MARGARET
He doesn't have very many of those. Well, sorry you're having a rough time. If you need anything, let us know.
HELEN
Right. Okay, thanks.
[TAPE CLICKS OFF]
[TAPE CLICKS ON]
ELIAS
Why do you do that?
HELEN
Do what?
ELIAS
I don't want to make this difficult or awkward for you, but the crying.
HELEN
Why do I have emotions? Thanks. Noted. Don't have any emotions ever or Elias Bouch-
ELIAS
You're deflecting. You always do that.
HELEN
What's it to you?
ELIAS
It just doesn't look very comfortable.
HELEN
Gee, thanks. I'll remember to make my crying look prettier and nicer next time.
ELIAS
That's not what I meant. I am being nice to you, you know. Driving you home and all that. I make you tea.
HELEN
Oh, well thank you, your highness. I am sorry for the inconvenience of my presence.
ELIAS
You are so–if you're upset or have something to say, just come out and say it. Don't go hide in the bathroom.
HELEN
You're being unfair.
ELIAS
You are so ridiculously self-destructive and lacking self-awareness.
HELEN
Thanks, I am going to cry about this later.
ELIAS
I am not trying to make things more difficult for you. I am sorry that you have difficulties with anxiety, but this is getting ridiculous. You have to-
HELEN
Wow! Noted! I will just try not to be anxious. Thank you so much. Elias Bouchard, Head up his ASS, I am cured now.
ELIAS
Is this what it takes to get you to actually communicate with me? If you want me to be mean, I can be mean to you, Helen. I have been making notable efforts to accommodate you.
HELEN
Oh, I am so sorry that I am such a burden. Maybe, (her voice cracks) if I could do anything right. Fuck, if I knew what I was doing. Elias, I just don't–it's too hard. I can't do it. You know, not all of us have 200 years of experience and–
ELIAS
You are doing just fine.
HELEN
I'm really not.
ELIAS
You're learning. It's okay to ask for help. I want to guide you, but I can't when you don't tell me things.
HELEN
I thought you were supposed to know everything.
ELIAS
Don't be ridiculous. Do you know how much work that would be?
HELEN
Clearly I don't know anything.
ELIAS
Helen, stop it. As for you, I keep you close because I don't know.
HELEN
What do you mean?
ELIAS
I don't know you, so I need you to tell me things. If you want to be a part of this, and that much I know that you do, then you actually have to communicate with me.
HELEN
Okay. Why me?
ELIAS
Because I see potential in you, Helen. Despite your struggles, there's a spark within you that I believe can be nurtured into something great. Plus, you bring a fresh perspective to the Institute.
HELEN
So like, anything?
ELIAS
Anything more than what you have been sharing. Isn't the point to separate you from the Lonely? You have to put in work too.
HELEN
I'll…try harder.
ELIAS
Thank you. That is all I ask of you.
HELEN
No, you actually ask a lot of me. It's kind of stressful.
ELIAS
Okay, well first things first, when I ask you to do things, it does not mean right this instant. You seem to think everything has to get done right away.
HELEN
Well, you should have clarified.
ELIAS
And you can also ask me for help. I know you lack experience. I know you have difficulties. I am not trying to make you struggle. You just have to actually tell me what's on your mind. I can't know everything about you.
HELEN
I…I will try harder for you.
[TAPE CLICKS OFF]
[TAPE CLICKS ON]
[BEEP]
(Soft sniffles)
RENEE
Asteria, this is your mother. I hope you're listening to this. I know you're trying to avoid me, but that's not going to work. You can't just run away from your responsibilities and expect everything to be fine. You have obligations, Asteria. You have a duty to your family, to me.
I don't know what you're thinking, leaving like this. Do you even realize how worried I am? How much you've hurt me? You're being selfish, Asteria. You always were. You only think about yourself, never about how your actions affect others.
You know, I've sacrificed so much for you. I've given up everything to raise you, to provide for you, and this is how you repay me? By abandoning me when I need you the most? You're ungrateful, Asteria. You don't appreciate anything I've done for you. You have so much potential, but you don't know what to do with it. I do. Come back. We are so much stronger together. You are nothing without me.
But fine, if you want to be stubborn, go ahead. Run away. But remember, you'll never escape from your past. You can't just erase who you are. Sooner or later, you'll have to come crawling back to me, begging for forgiveness. And when that day comes, Asteria, don't expect me to welcome you with open arms. You've made your choice, now you have to live with the consequences.
I bet you're crying right now. You always were a crybaby. I could count to three and you would start crying. You're weak. You are nothing without me. Nothing.
I love you, baby.
[BEEP]
(Ragged breathing and choked sounds)
RENEE
Asteria, this is your mother….
[TAPE CLICKS OFF]