Season 2, Episode 3

The Mage

[A local coffee shop. Day. Simultaneous with the previous episode. As Laura speaks, she sounds different than we are used to, putting aside the malice in exchange for a kind facade]

LAURA

I think that should give me all I need. And I mean it this time. [Laughs] I won’t keep bothering you.

CHRISTINE

No, you’re not bothering me! If I’m being honest, I’ve really enjoyed all of this. My two best friends are both guys, so it’s nice to get some girl time in.

LAURA

I can imagine. I know you said you moved here not too long ago, but it’s just the three of you? No other friends?

CHRISTINE

Well, sure, there are a few others. Jen from work, for one. She’s cool, we’ll have lunch together sometimes. Then some people from the theater. But we don’t really hang out on our own time. The boys keep me busy enough on their own. [She laughs]

[Her phone begins vibrating]

CHRISTINE (Cont.)

Speaking of which. Sorry. I told Henry we were meeting up today, he must’ve forgotten.

LAURA

How’s he doing? Your other friend, too, what’s his name?

CHRISTINE

Victor.

LAURA

Victor, of course. They’re doing well?

CHRISTINE

I wouldn’t say “well”. Things are still rocky. They’re civil toward each other, but….

LAURA

I understand. One wrong move can cause all sorts of tension, no matter how long someone’s been friends. Whatever happened to cause all that, anyway? I don’t think you ever said.

CHRISTINE

It was before I moved here. I don’t have a lot of details, and I never asked. Figure if they want to tell me, they will. 

LAURA

I’m going to be honest with you, I thought Victor’s name sounded familiar, so I did a bit of research. He’s… had a rough few years, it seems. 

CHRISTINE

Yeah, no doubt about that. He’s handling it pretty well, though. 

LAURA

It must’ve been hard to get to that point. I know what it’s like.

CHRISTINE

What what’s like?

LAURA

Losing someone you love. 

CHRISTINE

Ah. I’m sorry, I didn’t mean--

LAURA

No. No, don’t be sorry. It was a long time ago. 

CHRISTINE

Can I ask…?

LAURA

Of course. [She takes a breath] We were young. I was living with my father, still trying to figure out what I wanted to do with my life, looking for any career that would satisfy us both. I always wanted to travel, he was overprotective, liked having me close by. That was what got me interested in pen pals, I think. The sense of wanderlust that I feared would never be sated. If I couldn’t see the world, I would have others send the world to my doorstep. 

I’d been talking with a girl from Switzerland for quite some time by this point, and we considered ourselves to be close friends. So, when I got a letter telling me that she was coming to visit for a month, you can imagine how excited I was. I’d always been somewhat isolated growing up, so company was rare. 

LAURA (Cont.)

Everything changed about two weeks before she was due to arrive. There had been a car crash the night before. The woman driving had been badly injured and would have to go to Boston for medical care. The passenger was a student at Marksbury State, studying abroad, who had been staying with her for winter break. The problem was that she had some health conditions which required her to be home with someone at all times. Just as a precaution, you understand. So naturally, staying in the woman’s house by herself was out of the question. She couldn’t fly back home, she had no one else to stay with. So, my father decided to let her come with us. 

All at once, I was going from near total isolation to having two girls my age to talk to. I’ll admit, I was anxious. I knew that I was delayed socially due to my upbringing, and if I’m honest, I had no idea what I was supposed to do. But then I saw her. And Christine, my dear, she was beautiful. A head shorter than me, pale, long blonde hair that never seemed to need more than a moment’s effort to look absolutely pristine. She was soft, quiet unless she’d begun to trust you. Polite to a fault, with an air of mystery about her that was nothing short of enthralling. I wouldn’t say that I fell in love immediately, but there was certainly something there. She was constantly on my mind, and played a starring role in my dreams more often than I’d like to admit. I showed her around, and that was the most freedom I’d ever felt. My father seemed to trust her, as did I. And, before I knew it, she and I began experimenting with... different levels of intimacy.

She and I took some time to get to know one another, and when my other friend arrived, it was like the three of us had known one another our entire lives. Their sleep schedules were near opposites, so more than once, I nearly ran myself to the point of exhaustion trying to get as much time with each as I could. 

LAURA (Cont.)

At first, we thought that might have been the reason why I ran into some health problems while they were there. But before long, it was clear that that wasn’t the case. It was a steady decline, no one seemed to know what was causing it. But I wasn’t the only person in town showing symptoms. I don’t remember the exact number of cases, but it was starting to be a local mystery. Anyway, that’s beside the point. One day, after yet another pointless doctor visit… my father and I returned to find an empty house. My pen pal had left a note, informing us that she was returning to Switzerland a week early, without having said goodbye. And, the woman I suddenly realized that I loved, gone without a trace. They would find her body three days later in the woods by a river in Marksbury. Stabbed three times in the chest and beheaded. Obviously homicide, though no suspect was ever identified. I tried dating since then, tried to move on. But… nothing ever felt right. 

CHRISTINE

I…. That’s horrible, I’m so sorry.

LAURA

No, you’re fine. It was good to get it all out there, I needed that. [Beat.] Well, I’ve bored you long enough. I’m sure you’ve got things to do.

CHRISTINE

It wasn’t boring at all. But I should get going, see what Henry wanted.

LAURA

Of course. The article should be up in the next week or so. It was nice talking to you again, Christine. You’ve been very helpful.

[We hear a bell ding as Laura exits, and Christine dials the phone. Henry answers immediately]

HENRY

Hello?

CHRISTINE

Hey, everything good?

HENRY

Christ, why weren’t you answering your phone?

CHRISTINE

I was meeting up with--

HENRY

With Laura, yeah. That’s the problem. 

VICTOR

[In the background]

Is she okay?

HENRY

Yeah, she’s fine. You’re fine, right?

CHRISTINE

Yeah, why wouldn’t I be? 

HENRY

Look. We just watched the tape. Caroline was talking about Laura, something’s up with her.

CHRISTINE

Well yeah, obviously something’s up with her.

HENRY

What? 

CHRISTINE

Why do you think I keep agreeing to meet with her? The first time we talked, I noticed she only started her tape recorder after asking me the interview questions. She’s good, I almost didn’t notice. She did it today, too. Then she gets all casual, asks me about personal stuff. Says one thing, goes back on it later--

HENRY

Wait, what kinds of personal stuff?

VICTOR

[In the background]

Put her on speaker.

HENRY

I will, hold on, shut up. Christine, what kinds of personal stuff do you talk about?

CHRISTINE

She grew up in Tulprice, she likes writing--

HENRY

You know what I mean.

VICTOR

[In the background]

C’mon, man!

HENRY

Okay, fine, Jesus, here.

CHRISTINE

[She sighs]

She asks me about you guys.

VICTOR

Jesus Christ.

CHRISTINE

Relax, do you really think I’m going to tell her anything important?

HENRY

Anything could be important, we don’t know what the hell she wants!

CHRISTINE

Which is why I’m lying to her! 

HENRY

...Oh?

CHRISTINE

Yes! Just because I’m not working on a fancy degree or can’t bring a person to life doesn’t mean I’m an idiot, guys. I told her that you two could be at each other’s throats at a moment’s notice and that none of us are really close with anyone else.

VICTOR

...That’s a good idea, actually.

CHRISTINE

Yeah. I know it is.

VICTOR

But-- Wait. So you knew that she’s probably out to get us, but you still met with her alone, and didn’t mention anything about it to us?

CHRISTINE

I’m a big girl, Victor, I can take care of myself. I know the risks, and I’ll handle it. 

VICTOR

I-- We don’t know her, she could kill you.

CHRISTINE

She could try. Look, give me ten, fifteen minutes, I’m coming over. You guys at Victor’s?

HENRY

Yeah.

CHRISTINE

I’ll be right there, we’ll talk about it more. Oh, and Victor. Your mom was from Switzerland, right?

VICTOR

...Yeah, why?

CHRISTINE

I have some information you might be interested in.