Season 1, Episode 8
Where Two Were Made
Content Warnings:
-Strangulation
-Physical attack[Pre-episode announcement]
Hey, everyone! Victor Stark here! Just a couple announcements before we get started with this episode. First off: We are currently accepting auditions for Season 2 of The Marksbury Incident. Yes, already, wow! You can find us over at PariahPod on Casting Calls Club, or at the link in the description of this episode. Auditions go until February 14, 2021, and if you don’t get a chance to audition for next season, we will have auditions for future seasons, as well.
Second: We have merch! You can get Marksbury bags, replicas of Henry’s college hockey shirt, or anything else RedBubble will let us put our designs on. Again, you can find us at PariahPod, or in the link in the description.
Finally, thank you all so much for sticking with us. I can’t speak for everyone else, but I know that I’m having an absolute blast sharing this story, and I can’t wait for you to see how everything plays out.
Okay, that’s it from me! Here is Episode 8!
--
[Buxley, Maine. Ingleside University. Day. Christine and Victor are walking around campus]
CHRISTINE
So, how's it feel to be back?
VICTOR
Terrible, and I want to leave.
CHRISTINE
We drove six hours to get here, and you said you thought it was a good idea.
VICTOR
No, my therapist said it was a good idea, and I made the mistake of mentioning that to you.
[The sound of a small bell as they enter a cafe]
CHRISTINE
If you really aren’t comfortable, we can go back to the hotel. We don’t have to rush it.
VICTOR
No. No, we’re here, might as well get it over with.
BARISTA
Hi, what can I get you?
CHRISTINE
Hi, could I please get a small chai tea latte?
BARISTA
And for you?
VICTOR
Yeah, could I do a large black coffee with three espresso shots?
BARISTA
...Sorry, did you say--
VICTOR
Three, yeah.
[There are several seconds of concerned silence]
CHRISTINE
...How are you alive right now?
VICTOR
Through very unfortunate circumstances. [He slides his card] And yet.
CHRISTINE
You’re sure you’re okay being here, though?
VICTOR
We’re gonna find out pretty quick, aren’t we? [Beat.] Did they redo the library?
CHRISTINE
Yeah, they started not long after you left.
VICTOR
Good, that place was falling apart. Did you ever see on the third floor, that there was that glass partition that was just completely shattered and held together with tape?
CHRISTINE
Is that the one someone glued a bunch of condoms all over?
VICTOR
No, that was the one on the second floor.
CHRISTINE
Ah.
VICTOR
Everything else looks pretty much the same, though, if I remember correctly.
BARISTA
Here you go, you two.
CHRISTINE
Thank you.
VICTOR
[Overlapping with above]
Thanks.
CHRISTINE
Yeah, I guess they were planning on updating the gym and the theater, but the funding had to go toward something else.
VICTOR
Oh?
CHRISTINE
Something to do with an “accident” in a biology lab.
VICTOR
...Ah.
ICHABOD
Well, would you look what we have here. It’s been a while, Christine, how have you been?
CHRISTINE
Professor Crane! Good, really good!
ICHABOD
And Victor Frankenstein. I didn’t expect to see you again.
VICTOR
Because I had a mental breakdown, set fire to the science building, and dropped out before they could expel me?
ICHABOD
[With an audible smirk]
Because you hated my class.
VICTOR
[Softly]
Oh, right.
ICHABOD
So, what brings you two back? Looking for a bit of nostalgia?
VICTOR
Therapy trip.
CHRISTINE
[Cutting in before things can get too awkward]
But how are things with you? Everything still going well?
ICHABOD
Yeah, about the same as they were. Not that that’s necessarily a bad thing. Are you two still around here?
CHRISTINE
No, we’re both down in Massachusetts now.
ICHABOD
Whereabouts?
VICTOR
Doubt you’ve heard of it.
ICHABOD
I’m from Connecticut originally, I might have.
CHRISTINE
Marksbury? It’s not far from the Connecticut border, actually.
ICHABOD
Okay, yeah. I’ve never been, but I’ve heard it’s nice.
VICTOR
It’s trash.
CHRISTINE
[Cutting in again]
We were just gonna hang out here for a while. You’re welcome to join us if you’re not busy.
[Victor lets out an exasperated breath. Christine hits him, and he lets out a small “Ow”]
ICHABOD
I suppose I have some time.
VICTOR
Don’t you have like… a class to teach or something?
CHRISTINE
[Through her teeth]
Don’t be rude.
ICHABOD
They have the ramp for the music building torn apart for renovations, so all of my courses have to be online for the next few weeks. Really I just wanted to get out of the house.
CHRISTINE
Perfect timing, then.
[Two chairs are pulled out, and Ichabod pulls his wheelchair up to the table. Victor unzips his bag and starts flipping through a book]
CHRISTINE
So they seriously just took apart the ramp in the middle of the school year?
ICHABOD
Despite my best efforts to get them to put it off, yes.
CHRISTINE
And no alternative accommodations? Isn't that extremely illegal? If you went to the news with that, I'm sure it would get fixed up within a few days. If there's one thing universities hate, it's bad press and lawsuits. Hell, I'll do it if you're afraid the school will retaliate.
ICHABOD
Oh, believe me, several news stations and papers have already gotten some anonymous tips. It’s just a matter of time before they--
[He cuts himself off, a touch of fear creeping into his voice]
Victor, what are you reading?
VICTOR
Uh… it's my mom's journal…? I'm not even really reading it, it's not in English, and sure I know some scientific Latin, but I've never been good with--
ICHABOD
Let me see it.
VICTOR
What?
ICHABOD
That page you have open. Please.
[Victor slides the book over. Ichabod takes a few seconds to look it over. When he speaks again, it is clear that he is trying to keep from panicking]
You two should go.
CHRISTINE
Wait, what do you mean?
ICHABOD
This-- You two should go back to Marksbury. Victor, whatever your mother was doing… I think it's best if you leave it alone. It was nice to see you both.
CHRISTINE
Professor Crane, wait!
[The bell rings as he leaves the cafe]
VICTOR
...One day. Just one day, I'd like to not have something ominous happen. Three hundred miles away, and I still have to deal with it.
CHRISTINE
He recognized that symbol. Do you know what it means?
VICTOR
No. No, I've never seen it outside of the journal.
CHRISTINE
We should go after him, if he knows--
VICTOR
If he knows, that's his business. Whatever this is, whatever… follows me, I don't care. I'm done searching for answers to questions that people aren't meant to know.
CHRISTINE
And yet, you're still looking through the diary full of ciphers and weird sigils. I know I haven't known you for long, Victor, but even I can tell when you're lying to me.
VICTOR
You ever think that maybe I just didn't want to forget what her handwriting looked like? ...Look, we'll talk about it later. C’mon. I’m stressed and I feel like garbage, might as well keep going before I start to feel better.
[The café bell dings once more as they exit]
CHRISTINE
You’re sure you’re going to be okay?
VICTOR
No. But no point in turning back now.
CHRISTINE
Let me know if you change your mind, okay? I’m not gonna force you to do anything.
VICTOR
No. No, I need this. Don’t let me get out of it. Hold me there if you have to.
CHRISTINE
I’m not an expert, but I don’t think that would be healthy.
VICTOR
Look at me. I left healthy coping mechanisms behind a long time ago. There comes a time when you just have to force yourself to bite the bullet.
CHRISTINE
If you say so…. [Beat.] Tell me what you’re thinking.
VICTOR
That I should have gotten another espresso shot in my coffee.
CHRISTINE
I’m being serious.
VICTOR
...I feel like everyone’s staring.
CHRISTINE
Why would they be staring?
VICTOR
I don’t know, maybe-- maybe they recognize me. I’m sure there’s a few dozen urban legends or rumors, or maybe they’re just really into true crime stuff.
CHRISTINE
Victor, it was five years ago. Plus, you’ve changed a lot since then.
VICTOR
Thanks.
CHRISTINE
I’m not wrong.
VICTOR
No, you’re not.
CHRISTINE
No one’s staring, Victor. I promise. Everything’s okay.
[As they approach the science building, Victor lets out a breath]
You good?
VICTOR
[Clearly not fine]
Yeah. Yeah, I’m fine. Just… never thought I’d see this place again. Can’t even tell what happened. [Beat.] It was in that room. Right there. Third floor, fifth from the left. Lab 311B. Lightning struck the rod I’d snuck onto the roof, down the wires and into-- [Beat.] I’d been holding onto the cables hardly a second before, I remember thinking how lucky I was that I’d let go in time. Then… it went wrong.
The fire alarms took a while to go off. I was already down the hallway and headed toward the stairs by the time it started. Three floors down, and out the door. Then across the quad and toward my apartment. Maybe people saw me. They probably did, but-- But I'm not sure. I don’t even remember what happened on the way there, next thing I knew I was calling Elliot with no idea what I was supposed to tell him. I hadn’t spoken to anyone back home in months, and obviously I never told them what I was working on.
CHRISTINE
And what did you end up saying?
VICTOR
Nothing clear. Just that I was scared, that I made a mistake. It was the middle of the night, he didn’t even answer. By the time he woke up and listened to the voicemail, the police had already shown up at my doorstep and taken me away. I don't remember much past that, but I know it took them two days and a firm attorney before they actually sent me to a hospital.
CHRISTINE
That's horrible.
VICTOR
And yet, I am not surprised in the slightest.
CHRISTINE
Do you want to go in?
VICTOR
No. No, this… this is enough for today, I think. We can try that in another five years. [He forces a laugh]
CHRISTINE
...Can I ask you something?
VICTOR
You say that a lot.
CHRISTINE
Is there any reason in particular that you were being a huge ass to Professor Crane earlier? It’s not like you.
VICTOR
Would you believe me if I said that I just don’t like him?
CHRISTINE
Nope.
VICTOR
...Trusting people is hard. I had one class with the guy, it’s not like I really know him.
CHRISTINE
You could say the same about me.
VICTOR
And who says I trust you?
CHRISTINE
I thought that was implied when you agreed to be alone with me three hundred miles away from home.
VICTOR
...Good point. [Sighs] I-- I don’t know. I don’t know, there’s just… something. I think… you remind me of my sister a bit.
CHRISTINE
Yeah?
VICTOR
Yeah. Like… warm, but rational, you know? Never afraid to tell me when I’m being an idiot. Which happened a lot. [Laughs] She was into the arts, too. I was actually the odd kid out in that regard. She and my brother, they had this arrangement. If she were ever having artist’s block, they’d sit down at the piano together. Billy would make up a little melody on the spot, and Evelynn would paint something that made her feel the same way the music did. You know, the songs weren’t exactly breathtaking, he was ten. [On the verge of tears] But… they were nice.
CHRISTINE
[Soft]
You okay?
VICTOR
...Can we leave now?
CHRISTINE
Yeah. Let’s rent a movie at the hotel. I know one you’ll love.
[A beat of silence as the recording ends and the scene changes. That night. We hear crickets and Ichabod’s wheelchair on the pavement. He pauses, listens for a moment, then continues on, slightly faster now. Whispers begin to fade in, and he stops once again as someone begins speaking]
WOMAN
Good evening, Ichabod.
ICHABOD
I-- I’m sorry, who--
[He is cut off and begins struggling for breath as she begins choking him]
WOMAN
Oh, let’s not get distracted. You’re a long way from home, aren’t you?
[She throws him to the ground]
Now. Tell me about that night on the bridge.