Wonderlost Alone
July 17, 2005
Summary
Statement of Michael Shelley, regarding Renee Solomon.
Audio recording by Gertrude Robinson
[TAPE CLICKS ON.]
GERTRUDE
Statement of Michael Shelley regarding an encounter with Renee Solomon in Jersey City, New Jersey. Audio recording by Gertrude Robinson.
MICHAEL
Well, I was there for that conference you sent me on, and I visited this art gallery one day. The showing was called "Wonderlost" like wanderlust, but not. It was a play on words. It was listed as a showing of one artist's pieces, but the–
GERTRUDE
And what would you say led you to visit this particular exhibition?
MICHAEL
I mean I have always had an appreciation for art, you know? When I had some free time outside of the conference, I thought I might check out the local scene. I found a flier for "Wonderlost" and it seemed intriguing. Plus, the name sounded familiar, so I figured it was worth the look.
GERTRUDE
And what was your impression of Renee Solomon's work?
MICHAEL
[HE LAUGHS IN AN UNEXPECTED HIGH TONE, AND HIS LAUGH IS COMPARABLE TO A SHINY BELL].
It was captivating to say the least, a bit lackluster in color, but it seemed intentional. There was a rawness and sadness to the pieces there that really spoke to me. It seemed like there was more than just the art there for each piece, and there really weren't many pieces. There were four main ones. It's sort of hard to put into words, but there was something hiding within each stroke of each painting.
GERTRUDE
How would you describe the art style?
MICHAEL
Abstract. Maybe not thought-provoking, but more feeling-provoking. It was quite melancholic and gray. When there was color, it was used sparingly. One of the paintings in particular was like a library with a gray fog traveling through it. It was fascinating the way the fog almost seemed to move. I felt particularly drawn into that piece when the artist approached me.
GERTRUDE
You had direct interaction with her during your visit?
MICHAEL
Yes, actually. She approached me, which striked me as odd because she did seem a tad withdrawn and introverted to me. She was sort of friendly, but she struggled to make conversation with me. She asked me my thoughts on the exhibit, and the way she talked made me feel almost uneasy. She was so intense and not all there at the same time. I didn't remember anyone else coming into the exhibit when I was there, so it was just the two of us.
GERTRUDE
And did she say anything that struck you as unusual?
MICHAEL
Looking back, there were some strange remarks. She talked a lot about loneliness, isolation, stuff that made her art make way more sense. At the time, I didn't think much of it, but it was almost like she was trying to feed off my emotions…if that makes sense at all. [HE LAUGHS NERVOUSLY AFTER THE LAST WORDS. THE LAUGH IS HIGHER PITCHED THAN THE ONE FROM EARLIER AND TRAILS OFF]
GERTRUDE
You felt she was trying to feed off your emotions?
MICHAEL
In hindsight, yes. It's hard to explain, but she had some energy to her, a hunger almost. It's like she was drawn to the somber mood her paintings had inflicted on me. Maybe I am reading into it a bit too much.
GERTRUDE
And how did you respond to this?
MICHAEL
I panicked a bit and excused myself. I left the exhibit to go get something to eat myself.
GERTRUDE
That was probably the smart thing to do. And have you experienced anything strange since then?
MICHAEL
If you mean the horrible sleep I got on the plane ride back here, then yes. Other than that, no, it was just some creepy artist I met on the East Coast.
GERTRUDE
[SHE SIGHS AND TAKES AN AUDIBLY DEEP BREATH] Thank you, Michael. That will be all for now.
[TAPE CLICKS OFF]
[TAPE CLICKS ON]
GERTRUDE
It would appear Renee used to be more tolerable than she is now. She remains hard to find as usual, but I may yet get a chance to speak to Morri about her.
[TAPE CLICKS OFF]
[TAPE CLICKS ON]
[A WHIZZING STATIC SOUND CRACKLES INTO EXISTENCE]
ASTERIA
Oh, hello there.
RENEE
Who are you talking to?
ASTERIA
Nobody. I'm never talking to anybody.
[HER VOICE LOWERS TO A WHISPER AND THE SOUNDS OF RUSTLING FABRIC AND SOMETHING ZIPPING]
I won't tell anyone if you don't.
[THE RECORDING SOUND BECOMES SLIGHTLY MUFFLED AS IF COVERED BY A LAYER OF FABRIC]
RENEE
Come along now, little one. We have work to do.
ASTERIA
Come along now, little one.
RENEE
Excuse me? Did you say something?
ASTERIA
No. Nothing.
[WHISPERS]
Can you believe that? She is so rude.
RENEE
I knew you were talking to something! Come here.
ASTERIA
Mom, no–[SOUNDS OF STRUGGLING AND GRUNTING FOLLOW] What do you think you're doing?
RENEE
I am just trying to do what's best for you, and now, I have to clean up your mess. Look at what you've done! You're drawing attention.
ASTERIA
No, don't! Please, I'm sorry I didn't mean to.
[ASTERIA CRIES OUT, BUT HER SOBS ARE CUT SHORT BY A SMACK AND A CRY OF PAIN]
[THE RECORDER HITS THE GROUND WITH A LOUD CLACK FOLLOWED BY ANOTHER LOUD NOISE]
[TAPE CLICKS OFF]
[TAPE CLICKS ON]
RENEE
I've been looking for you.
ELIAS
Likewise.
RENEE
I want my daughter back.
ELIAS
You can't have her.
RENEE
I'll get her. I have-
ELIAS
Connections? Good luck with that. She might be dead before you can make any of your connections even come through.
RENEE
Are you trying to blackmail me?
ELIAS
She's dying right now. There was an incident that has temporarily severed her connection to the Eye, and it's-
RENEE
Killing her. The man with the fucking plan is killing my daughter. Do you even know how much I sacrificed to build her into what she is?
ELIAS
My point is you can't have her. She can't leave the Eye.
RENEE
Figure something out. Fix her. If she dies, I'll kill you.
ELIAS
I didn't know you cared so much.
RENEE
She's my daughter. Of course I care. If anyone destroys her, it can only be me.
ELIAS
How touching, truly. A mother's love knows no bounds, does it? Spare me the melodrama, Renee. You act like you're the only one who's ever cared for her. But let's not forget who's been here, day in and day out, picking up the pieces while you flit around playing your little games. If anyone knows what's best for her, it's certainly not you.
[TAPE CLICKS OFF]
[TAPE CLICKS ON]
HELEN
[HELEN CRIES OUT]
Nonono-
ELIAS
Helen, Helen, stop. It's okay. It's okay.
HELEN
[HELEN SNIFFLES]
I…don't want to be alone.
ELIAS
I know, Helen. I'm here.
HELEN
You were gone.
ELIAS
I won't go anywhere.
HELEN
Promise?
ELIAS
[ELIAS SCOFFS] I-yes, Helen, I promise.
HELEN
You think I'm pathetic.
ELIAS
Not you. I just became a tad self aware. Me promising anyone anything is a bit of an unusual scenario for me.
HELEN
[HELEN LAUGHS SOFTLY] Yeah, you're too serious and grand for that. Thanks.
ELIAS
Of course.