Season 2, Episode 4
Whispers From the Past
Content Warnings:
-Panic attack
-Alcohol abuse
[Harris’ Hardware, day. Victor is using his Customer Service Voice as he talks to an unheard second party on the phone]
VICTOR
Yeah, so that’s no problem, but unfortunately I do need the product in store in order to-- [Pause] I understand, but-- [Pause] Do you remember who you spoke to? [Pause] Then unfortunately-- [Pause] I can transfer you over to a manager if you’d like. [Pause] All right! David just got in, I’ll send you right over. Have a good day! [He dials the extension and hangs up the phone. When he speaks again, he’s dropped all the superficial joy] I am literally begging you to kill me.
HENRY
I get the feeling David’s in for a treat. That bad, huh?
VICTOR
I was supposed to be out of here fifteen minutes ago, and this piece of garbage starts going off on me because he wants to return his stupid ceiling fan, but, [Mocking] “I already installed it, I don’t wanna take it down”. Like man, shut up. And do you have any idea how many times I have to tell people where the stupid pen on the pin pad is? Or to stand at the “Line starts here” sign? And God, if I have to explain to one more person that you can’t order $2,500 worth of stuff and expect it to be on a cart ready to go in fifteen minutes. Or, “Oh, I’ve never met a girl named Victor before!” You’re right! And you still haven’t! Jesus Christ!
HENRY
I have no idea how you do this every goddamn day.
VICTOR
Easy. I drink.
HENRY
...Yeah, funny.
VICTOR
Christine outside?
HENRY
Yeah, she’s on the phone with Raoul, and the service in here’s shit.
VICTOR
You’re tellin’ me. [Beat.] You guys figure out anything more about…?
HENRY
No, nothing. Not a lot to go off of. We don’t even have the person’s first name. And even if we did, Christine wasn’t able to find anyone called Vordenburg that ever lived in the area. Said it’ll take her a while longer to check the Swiss records, though.
VICTOR
Wonderful.
HENRY
Well, no matter how shitty your day’s been, we got your coffee. That oughta make you feel better.
VICTOR
You have no idea.
HENRY
The barista at Dunkin says hi, by the way.
VICTOR
Hold on, how’d she know--
HENRY
She recognized your order, dipshit. How many people do you think get a large black coffee with three espresso shots?
VICTOR
…I thought I told you four.
HENRY
And we decided that we don’t want your fucking heart to give out before you hit 30. You’re welcome.
VICTOR
[Sighs]
...You know, that’s fair.
[He turns to his coworkers]
I’m heading out, bye guys.
[No one responds]
...Okay.
HENRY
Well they seem lovely.
VICTOR
Look, I’m not here to make friends. I’m here to take verbal abuse from the general public and make an insultingly low paycheck. Besides, not exactly a new concept.
HENRY
What do you mean?
VICTOR
In case you haven’t noticed, Clerval, I don’t exactly connect with people easily.
HENRY
That’s not true.
VICTOR
Name two people in school who actually liked me. You and Elliot don’t count.
HENRY
Jen liked you.
VICTOR
Jen tolerated me because you guys were dating.
HENRY
No, Christine told me just the other day she was asking about you at work.
VICTOR
Oh boy, she wanted the latest details on the guy who went crazy after high school. So do half the people we graduated with. They don’t actually care, they just like the gossip.
HENRY
Jen’s not like that, and you know it.
[We hear Victor open his employee locker as he continues speaking]
VICTOR
Still, I don’t exactly see her knocking on my door wanting to hang out.
HENRY
Would you say yes even if she did?
VICTOR
...I might, you don’t know.
HENRY
If you really want to, I can give her a call and set something up.
VICTOR
You know what, I think I’m good.
HENRY
And there we go.
VICTOR
You’re looking way too far into this. I just don’t need a bunch of people running around trying to get my attention right now. It’s not that deep.
HENRY
No, you just want to keep yourself isolated so you don’t have to worry about anyone getting hurt.
VICTOR
And is that so wrong?
HENRY
Wrong, no. Unhealthy, bet your ass. Let’s take an even closer look, shall we? Not only do you want to protect people, but you’re also afraid that people won’t like you, so you’re making sure they don’t even get the chance. Classic example of self sabotage.
VICTOR
Really, we’re gonna do this now?
HENRY
Rather I give Dr. Walton a call to share my theories?
VICTOR
No need. He said the same thing three weeks ago.
HENRY
How’s that going, by the way?
VICTOR
Fine. Been kinda stagnant lately, but, y’know, baby steps.
HENRY
I mean about… what we told him.
VICTOR
...Ah. [He sighs] Okay, I guess? He doesn’t really talk about it much unless I bring it up. And even then, you can tell that he’s… uncomfortable. He clearly doesn’t want to, but it’s his job, so…. But he hasn’t prescribed me any antipsychotics, and I’m not in an inpatient facility, so that’s something.
HENRY
Means he believed it.
[An automatic door opens as they exit the building, and we hear the tail end of Christine’s phone conversation in the background]
CHRISTINE
I mean, that’s what I said, but you know how that goes. [Laughs, then pause] Plus we had a couple old guys come in and gave me a $2 tip on a $50 tab, so I was not in the mood to deal with that shit. [Pause] Exactly. Hey, I gotta go. I’ll call tonight, okay? Tell Meg and her mom I said hi. [Pause] Love you too.
VICTOR
Yeah, maybe.
HENRY
You don’t think so?
VICTOR
I dunno, I-- For all I know, he’s just getting more information so he can put me away indefinitely, or-- Or heck, he might even be involved in all this somehow, I--
HENRY
You really believe that?
CHRISTINE
Believe what?
VICTOR
[Quietly]
Jesus Christ….
HENRY
In a shocking turn of events, Victor is letting his paranoia get to him again.
CHRISTINE
I find that hard to believe.
HENRY
I know. He’s usually so calm and level-headed. Rational, too.
VICTOR
What the heck is all of this? “Hey Victor, we’re going to Stevenson Park, wanna come with us?” Surprise! It’s actually a roast session.
[They all get into Christine’s car]
CHRISTINE
You know we’re just joking, right?
HENRY
Yeah, if you want us to cut it out, it’s no problem.
VICTOR
No, I know. Really, it-- it’s fine. And I mean, you’re right, it is kinda getting out of hand, huh? [He forces a laugh] I mean, I--
[He cuts himself off when, as Christine starts the car, the radio turns on. For a few seconds we hear music, but after some static, there is a crackling recording of a one-sided phone call]
JUSTINE (RECORDING)
[Bubbly, as if talking to a child]
Hey, bud! How’s today treating you? [Pause] That’s awesome! You ready for tonight? [Pause] Aw, you don’t gotta worry about that, you’re gonna do amazing. [Pause] Even if you do mess up, I promise, no one will know. Everyone messes up sometimes. [Pause, then laughs] Yes, even me. [Pause] Tell you what. I’ve got a lot to do the next few days, but how about I pick you up from school next Thursday? We can get dinner, go to the park, whatever you wanna do, just the two of us. Sound good? [Pause] All right, sounds good, bud. How about you give the phone to your dad so I can make sure it’s okay?
VICTOR
[Overlapping with above. The conversation gets more and more chaotic with every moment]
Where did-- What is this?
CHRISTINE
I don’t know, I--
VICTOR
Can-- Can you turn it off, please?!
CHRISTINE
I’m trying, it won’t change stations!
HENRY
Here-- Victor, get out of the car, okay? Don’t listen to it, focus on me. You’re okay.
[The car doors close, and we here them continue, muffled from outside]
Look at me, okay? I need you to breathe.
VICTOR
I don’t-- That’s not--
HENRY
Don’t think about it, all right? I’m gonna touch your shoulder, okay?
[Inside the car, we hear Christine repeatedly hitting the button on her radio]
CHRISTINE
Would you shut up, you stupid--
JUSTINE
[Not as bubbly now]
Well, that’s not very nice.
CHRISTINE
...Huh.
JUSTINE
You’re a very important person, you know that, Christine?
CHRISTINE
I-- ...Okay. Of all the weird shit I’ve seen, this is definitely up there.
JUSTINE
Ah, don’t be like that. I just wanna talk. Just us girls.
CHRISTINE
I have no idea what’s going on here.
JUSTINE
Not surprising. Don’t worry about them, they’ll be fine. Victor’s always been a bit dramatic, even before all this.
CHRISTINE
Fine, I’ll bite. Who’re you supposed to be?
JUSTINE
An old friend of Victor’s. Justine.
CHRISTINE
[Not putting up with any of this shit]
Ah. Of course. Justine. The person who’s dead.
JUSTINE
Well… yeah. It’s a little more complicated than that, though.
CHRISTINE
...Are you trying to tell me you’re a ghost?
JUSTINE
No, nothing like that.
CHRISTINE
Okay, that’s good at least. That means you’re not her, and therefore, I don’t have to listen to you.
JUSTINE
I promise, I’m not lying to you.
CHRISTINE
Yeah, I’m not buying that. I never met Justine, but I highly doubt she’d purposefully launch her friend into a panic attack.
JUSTINE
Well, it’s certainly less than what he deserves, isn’t it? He did get me killed.
CHRISTINE
That wasn’t--
JUSTINE
You’ve gotta stop making excuses for him, Christine. You’re just going to get yourself hurt.
[The radio turns to static for a split second, then changes back to music, albeit a different song]
CHRISTINE
...What the fuck.
[After a few seconds of contemplative silence, the car door opens again]
HENRY
We good in here?
CHRISTINE
I… I think so? Looks like it stopped.
[She shuts the radio off]
HENRY
Cool.
[He opens the car door for Victor]
All right, just take it easy, got it? You gonna be okay? Wanna borrow my headphones or anything?
[Victor is silent]
CHRISTINE
I’m so sorry, I don’t know what happened, I--
HENRY
No, you didn’t do anything wrong. Just…. Later. Okay?
CHRISTINE
…Right. Right.
[Scene change. The Frankenstein house, later that night. Victor is watching old video tapes. We hear him pop open a bottle of alcohol before fumbling with the VCR. What plays is a scene we’ve heard before]
CAROLINE (RECORDING)
And what are you three doing?
ELLIOT (RECORDING)
Our… best?
CAROLINE (RECORDING)
It’s two in the morning, I think it’s time to pack it in.
VICTOR (RECORDING)
But moooooooom.
[Pause. The video changes. This time, it’s at Marksbury State University, 2014]
SPORTSCASTER (RECORDING)
Oh! And Marksbury State has forced a power play. The boys in red are getting desperate on the ice tonight, Clerval’s killer attacks have got them sweati— EIGHTEEN’S LOST THE PUCK—! IT’S A CLEAR PASS TO CLERVAL—! GORDON’S TOO FAR FROM THE NET—! HE STRIKES—! And that, folks, is yet another beautiful shot from Henry Clerval, earning him his fourth, you heard me, fourth hat trick of the season! *
[Victor swaps out the tape again, and we get another scene change. Again, it’s something we’re familiar with]
VICTOR (RECORDING)
Oh!
EVELYNN (RECORDING)
No.
VICTOR (RECORDING)
Oh, I see what’s going on here.
EVELYNN (RECORDING)
No you don’t, shut up.
[Another VHS sound. We’re now in the Frankenstein house, several years before Caroline’s death. There is the faint clatter of toys throughout]
VICTOR (RECORDING)
[Gasps]
You smooshed my robot!
BILLY (RECORDING)
[Laughs]
Now mine is bigger than yours!
VICTOR (RECORDING)
Ah beans!
BILLY (RECORDING)
[Laughs again]
Ah beans!
[Victor laughs as well. It’s the most genuine one we’ve ever heard from him]
Can you build my robot?
VICTOR (RECORDING)
Yeah! What do you want it to look like?
BILLY (RECORDING)
Like.… Like this!
VICTOR (RECORDING)
Like this?
BILLY (RECORDING)
[Holding back even more laughter]
It needs ingredients.
VICTOR (RECORDING)
It needs ingredients?? We’re cooking a robot??
BILLY (RECORDING)
Yeah! We are cookin’ a robot!
VICTOR (RECORDING)
I don’t think so!
BILLY (RECORDING)
Yeah we are!
VICTOR (RECORDING)
I don’t think we’re cookin’ a robot.
BILLY (RECORDING)
Yeah, we are cookin’ a robot!
VICTOR (RECORDING)
Is that what I’m gonna tell Elliot, what he has to make for dinner? He has to make a robot?
BILLY (RECORDING)
Yeah!
VICTOR (RECORDING)
I’ll let him know.
[Another VHS tape is put in. Yet another interaction we’ve seen before]
ERIK (RECORDING)
You have far more eyes on you than you are aware of.
VICTOR (RECORDING)
Wh-- What?
ERIK (RECORDING)
How does it feel? Knowing that one selfish night undid all the work that your mother risked her life for?
[And one more swap, this the most recent we’ve heard]
RUTHVEN (RECORDING)
You’ll wish it was as simple as you currently think it to be. It’s not black and white, good vs evil, vampires vs humanity. It never has been. And it never will be. You’ll learn that soon enough. And so will your lineage for generations to come.
[The VHS rewinds]
RUTHVEN (RECORDING)
So will your lineage for generations to come.
[The VHS rewinds again]
RUTHVEN (RECORDING)
So will your lineage for generations to come.
[The VHS is ejected]
VICTOR
God, I… I’m sorry…. I’m sorry, I…. God, that’s it, isn’t it…?
*Hockey play-by-play written by Harper F. Germain