“Casi & Lacey” by Lem

Lux Aeterna by Clint Mansell & Kronos Quartet plays.

“Oh my gosh…I’m on an Adderall high. Like…bad. Wow! …Why do I do this to myself?” said Casi in 2015 to herself, while perusing Instagram. She happened across Lacey’s post. Read the signs correctly. And thought, “She’s arguing about social class. Huh… Well…okay? Huh. …Yeah…I could totally get on board with that. LET’S DO IT!!”

Why? Because Casi was bored. Feeling insecure. And has ugliness inside her heart. She didn’t completely hate Lacey…but she…felt like fighting with her. Casi likes fighting. For fun. Especially when she’s bored.

If there’s reincarnation: “Oh my gosh!! I’m so into nitpicking right now. I’m so high on Adderall. Let’s nitpick!”

Lacey stares at her. “I’m not really nitpicking.”

“Please, please, please!!” says Virginia.

“You’ll actually debate this with me for real?” said Lacey.

“YEAH!!!” said Virginia.

Lacey perked up, excited. “LET’S ANALYZE!!” she said, excitedly.

Virginia clapped her hands together happily. “OH GOODY!”

“Yes! So! What did you think of my post? Did I have it all accurately shaped out?” says Lacey.

Virginia thinks. “Mmm…yes? I have a few contentions.”

And they had lots of sad, lonely, horrific fun…in two miserable lives. No. Not at all as lovers. But rather as fully platonic coconspirators. Both extremely angry about their lives. And both looking for something to distract them from their nauseated souls. Casi as a recreational Adderall user and Lacey as an over-analyzer by nature who has gone further into it to avoid morbid amounts of loneliness. So Casi, high and not sane…and Lacey suicidal and an over-analyzer.

2:24

What the perfume community fails to accept is that if there’s reincarnation CASI IS A DEAD ITALIAN ARISTOCRAT. …Right now she’s not. Right now she’s lower middle to middle class. But she was a REAL aristocrat. If there’s reincarnation she really was. And so…Lacey being a reincarnated aristocrat herself…naturally got along with her.

What the perfume community fails to accept is that Lacey is straight and Casi is bisexual and semi-closeted. So there was no sexual tension or sexual attraction between them. At all. …Casi may have found Lacey attractive. But that’s it. That’s all that happened. And it’s possible that if Casi is happily married she’s almost entirely put any attraction she had for anyone in the past, including Lacey. If she even found Lacey that attractive to begin with. …She may have…or it’s possible she misunderstood what she was looking at. Or if Casi is evil hearted she might have wanted to defile a straight woman, Lacey. That is a psychopathic tendency in the homosexual community at large. Some would claim they’re all innately deranged and evil and some would say it’s not all of them but rather some bad apples amongst them who are so evil and deranged.

Regardless…Lacey was inundated as was Casi by hateful, judgmental, presumptuous people in the perfume community online who made the previous two assumptions asserted not as hypothetical reasons but objective truth.

“She’s not that pretty. She’s gross.” people said in private DM’s to Lacey about Casi.

“She’s…weird.” people said to Casi. “I feel like she’s kind of a manly lesbo! Who’s just in love with you…but who’s also super insecure.”

The song starts over.

Lacey isn’t ugly. Lacey is an extreme beauty. Lacey isn’t insecure. Lacey is Old Money upper class.

Is there reincarnation?

Casi?

“ I did edit my face slightly in the last one to look a little less round is possible that if I am Virginia, and even in this life, I have a round face and so I realize that and it’s like I was prettier in person and I’m pretty much actually the same as I am now on camera But if there’s a ring carnation, I had empathy for Lacey because in my last life my face look more like hers. Yeah Zelda had the same problem. A lot of people did so I don’t know I actually think I’m about the same level of beauty may be slightly less attractive. I don’t know maybe slightly more, depending on what you find attractive but if I am, if there’s reincarnation And I am this person you’re talking to a yeah my face was round her before and yeah it wasn’t at the same time and it just didn’t photograph well. They took so many pictures of me personally because they kept trying to capture my beauty for like posterity sake for my lover, and it just was extremely hard to do so I had some empathy for Lacey‘s problems with Camera because it’s just it really is actually at it. It really is far more challenging than you think when you have a face like hers And I use my mothers an example with her I was like my mom has a hard time taking photographs, but if there’s been Carnation, it was actually me in my subconscious. I remember that from my last life because it was actually kind of traumatizing I mean, it’s not like a market difference, you know, but it was enough that it actually really bothered me, it really know it it really did. It really bothered me because it was like this isn’t what I look like. This is what I look like but this isn’t what I look like and it was really actually kind of painful at times because you know it’s like you keep pictures of people and there’s times I was thinking oh my my boyfriend is going to see you know my lover is going to see my picture on his desk and he’s gonna be like oh Virginia is not that pretty I should just do this and that without other woman, and then it’s like what do I do? Pop out every five minutes remind them know I look this way if I look this good this is what I look like remember OK I’m gonna go back now. Seriously like you just get paranoid it’s like these men are so dumb and then they just look at your picture and it’s like that’s what she looks like and then you idiot popped back five minutes later they’re like oh you’re so sore disorderly beautiful and it’s like I would ask. That’s what I look like that’s just what I look like not the picture, so no, there was actually some real trauma for me with that so I empathize with her and I’m like yeah that one shit that one is fucking shit I hear you girl but I am, but that that’s that’s that’s sort of sort of beside the point but I had to point it out because it’s really monstrous peoples features used to be harder to photograph and hers are still very pristine from the 1800s so for some reason so far yeah, I had empathy for her without one and anyway enough personal stuff, right ha ha ha that’s a joke him basically if there’s ring carnation awkwardly enough, she recognized me and acknowledged me. I’m sorry because we had something in common, and we could talk and it wasn’t sexual. It was just as friends or sort of Facebook friend type thing you know Instagram friend type thing and it wasn’t like real friendship but it was kind of like friendship and we could get along and actually talk because if I’m reincarnated we have similar experiences in existence so it wasn’t like talking to someone and you’re just like those persons not following they’re not following him because I like certain perfumes other people didn’t like kind of like Sisley by dolce and Cabanna and I was like that smells like that actually kind of smells like something is it Italee? What is that smell? That’s what’s what what are the name of that Chipper that in her subconscious if there’s reincarnations she’s like I know it’s not atrocious Sicily is it smell like Sicily what what kind of a bizarre insult is that by dolce Gabbana and no I am like a man I agree this is evil. Why do they doing that sauce? Got the same time is so heartbreaking because that’s the most beautiful smell. I love that perfume and she’s like I’ve never smelled it and like I know I hear you, so we actually got along. If there’s reincarnation we actually got along and then all these bitches in the perfume community were like Merz you’re friends with Casi. She shows her Boobs. Why are you friends with Casi? What the fuck do you do you have in common? No, you’re talking to her!? at least he’s just like what the fuck lighten up like this is just I’m just talking and having a nice time talking to this person who’s been Carnation that was problematic to the Kennedys because Jack was has an asshole from a shit family that took advantage of poor people in Japan. And JP Kennedy is questionable. Joe Kennedy Junior was a slave trader like literally he worked on the slave ships. He actually is the better amongst all of them. He actually might have really had to cut a sense of compassion and conscience towards the black slaves but he just didn’t ask lotta questions. He just did his job so if there’s reincarnations you wanted to run into him, he didn’t treat you amazingly well, but he wasn’t like a total jerk like he didn’t beat people. If not, if it wasn’t necessary, he didn’t do that, so he just kind of is like you just mind your own business. You do your job you know and you know it’s like the Black people just get them on the ship get them off don’t torture him you don’t have to talk to him maybe you do slightly at times you know what why not to suffer him and the times if he even laughed with people and had a fun time he wasn’t a terrible person necessarily completely but it’s still very embarrassing to him if there’s reincarnation it’s very embarrassing but that’s his last life working on the slave ships so Joe was sort of a middle-class schmuck working on slave ships. Jack was disgusting from the awful family in Japan, even though they were Japanese And JP I don’t even know it’s hard to get a read on him. He’s a mess the rose might not have been reincarnated and actually I don’t even know if a lot of the other people were it’s not like everyone’s reincarnated believe it or not there’s been carnation in the Bible, not everyone’s reincarnated so but I was if it’s in the Bible, so is Lacey and so was Joe and so is Jack, and so when I started talking to her, they flipped out because they thought holy shit. God still keeping track of our last life and it’s still matters oh no?

But no, I’m sorry to destroy the mystery. Lacey really is straight. Sorry if you saw her that one no she’s actually straight and I am not. Yeah she wasn’t. Didn’t see that one either. That’s surprising but OK so I am not straight. I wasn’t surprise. Surprise I guess good God help us how dumb are people sorry I have a bit of a nudge, Lacey, Lacey is strays and she is the Scottish aristocrat you guys get confused and you think bubbly Italian is like straight when it’s not and that like feisty, Scottish aristocrat would have to be a lesbian that’s so ignorant that’s so trashy and it’s really annoying.

But that’s just how people are sexy play the reasons why I identify as straight because even if I’m not, I just got so sick of dealing with people who are totally in capable of handling reality that it’s like you can’t just fake people out like oh I were hot pink all the time and I were you know feminine sugary fragrances, so I magically straight or Lacey is just like fuck it I’m just going to let people think I’m a lesbian because you know I would prefer to wear green fragrances and I’m just so sick of everyone shit so she just gets angry and says fuck you I’m wearing my Chanel 19 and you’re gonna have to deal with it bitch and I my reaction is to be like I’m just gonna be closeted and confuse people because I like pleasing people I’m actually a people pleaser she’s not I am a people pleaser me Casi I am a people pleaser. Lacey is not a people pleaser she would rather fight with you and set you straight and such a difference Chris where is I am I’m like let’s be friends please be nice to me I need your approval I am so if you were confused about that one too that’s what’s going on. I’m a people pleaser I get peoples approval I work for it she doesn’t give a shit beyond what’s normal she doesn’t give a shit she really doesn’t. You know anyways fall for it which I think just gets to be a vicious cycle because she’s just like I can’t stand people stupidity And so then she’s like I’m gonna confuse them more and then she does and then you’re just like what and she’s like what you’re confused OK to confuse you more!

And that’s possibly the Sean Connery on SNL really hurt sad part of her I don’t think she really wants to torture people. If they don’t deserve it you’re really she doesn’t. She doesn’t want to do something evil but she’s actually gone through a lot of pain and if you’re a narcissist, you’re gonna have to be more intellectually astute there is something wrong with you people actually suffer and she has effects very badly. Maybe it’s affected you badly to etimes, you don’t have to be empathetic if you can’t be just try to understand the concept so she’s suffering and her reaction is to just be like I’m just gonna confuse you more and more and more and more. But it’s not like she really wants to harm people so if you’d come back at her to try to and try to confuse her, it’s actually very evil because she’s doing that as a reaction to people attacking her suit is profoundly sadistic degree so then, when she slowly unraveled truth, because she’s in the right all hell breaks, loose And you have to ask yourself why is she trying to confuse you more and more and more maybe there’s something there to unpack, but that’s me the different conversation.” says Casi, who’s possibly Virginia.

“ are you a snob? Are you a real snob?” asks a Belgian gay perfume collector of Casi.

“ Daya truth be told yes I am an extraordinary snob and I had enough respect for Lacey and her good taste to be able to take her seriously as a perfume collector and I thought oh no, no we could match wits on this one but yes, unfortunately or as it is, I am an extraordinary snob I mean to yes I’m I’m a real snob.” admits Casi.

To mock the Kennedys and evil Lacey plays Meet Virginia by Train.

“That’s why we trust God. Always. From the depths of ourselves…beyond mere human logic and into the actual hands of Christ.” says Lacey.

“ that really does sound like Virginia, Holden, some thing and who reincarnated as Casi, Brooke Hart and if there’s ring carnation that song actually makes me smile and realize how much God probably really does love us. He’s cool he gets it if there’s a incarnation he’s like I don’t you know it’s complicated and gnostics and stuff and it’s not essential to salvation and it just got to be a real sticky wicket here in the 21st-century but I’m trying and I’ve got a song that might kind of make a smile so it made me smile. Thanks God if there’s been Carnation thanks so much that really did make my day slightly but that’s Virginia OK so we can like Casi we can like the fact that she chose to come back as a poor woman who is not really poor she’s more middle-class, but because there’s something really cool about that or there’s maybe something evil about that and cool it’s kind of complicated and I know it’s kind of an interesting trajectory for her but no, we have to trust God that she’s not gonna end up in hell if she doesn’t deserve to be there but that’s that again that’s Casi Lacey is there any song that’s like you? Like, is there any song that is about you in any like authentic way at all?” says a psychic with concern.

“No.” says Lacey calmly. “Not really.”

“ no absolutely not, and for the sake of the situation I would like to rip off the Kennedys has each, and everyone of them let them bleed to death in some gruesome way, because they deserve it. They blinded artists left, and right they used her soul to make music that is her soul OK so a lot of indie music from the early 2000s was inspired by her soul, the sadness the existential beauty of her questioning it so a lot of that music is very much her soul a lot of the music featuring garden state is a part of her soul so if you’re listening to the music, you can kinda get a sense of who she is because that music is her that music hold on for a

All right, I’m back that music is her soul to a lot of the music in Garden State is her soul him which is almost creepy really because how did that happen there is sort of a violation in that room and then then dear Duffy did channel her possibly for a brief second or two and handle the situation fairly well possibly yesterday But no, unfortunately there is no song that illuminates who she is if you’re looking for some sort of Compass or decoder ring, or some sort of explanation for who she is, it’s not there we’ve looked through yours, possibly and know nothing is ever been written about her in any novel in any song nothing like that.

The only time she’s ever showing up an idiot, authentic way. This is not popular in America and Great Britain. They’re annoyed by hearing it for the umpteenth time not because they’re mad at Lacey or anyone else who matters to them but because including the actress in question, obviously because it’s just so obvious it’s so fucking obvious, and Julian Sands died.

No, I mean Lacey likes to hike and then the actor who would’ve loved her in the films dies hiking if that doesn’t seem like some sort of sad tragic trade-off I don’t know what is this is it this is it is it is it is it is very despair, because what is that? Did he sacrifice himself so that her family could go hiking? He might’ve done something like that, but was that even when he would’ve chosen or is that even what happened is it just a threat from hell that’s empty it’s hard to know.

But know that the actress, Helena Bonham, Carter captured Lacey‘s soul beautifully in her performances in a room with a view, and Howards end add the same degree and some of her other roles as well she can channel they see, and understand her better than most living people that’s not to put her in a difficult position, but she gets her. She gets Lacey pretty well, and so if you’re looking for some sort of roadmap or a compass, Helena has done good work, it is in the the masterpieces that she created in Howards end, and a room with a view. Jack has a hard time hearing that because he hast to realize that I am straight and that I am Julian sans character, and he doesn’t want to admit that he’s evil.

Oh, and JP has a hard time admitting that she is Helena Bonham, Carter’s character in the Howards end because then he feels like an idiot because she is strong like her sister and she is from a nice family and that bothers him but it’s also it’s it’s the Bility that Lacey has to fall apart But he can’t except part of that as a wound from his own family and how they fall apart if he loved her at all it’s very hard to except that she can be that week and then part of it is that he feels like an idiot, because he lied about the quality of his character and the men that she ends up with doubt, and they may or may not be the best people it is like what is she even looking for so he went way overboard, making himself seem like an upstanding Catholic man as it was a lie and here this woman that he really finds a tractive wasn’t even impressed by it and then he just feels like an idiot.” says Lem. “ because he is he thinks I am not complicated. I am not complicated. I could read poetry and walk out into a field. I could do that, but he didn’t do that. He didn’t cultivate that part of himself and then that makes him feel incredible anguish, if he was capable of being deeper, and chose not to be.”

“Lacey LIVES” by Lem

Lacey sits at the table in the dance hall at the hotel in Stevens Point. It’s dark. Late. She sits mostly alone. A few Boomers sit near her. And yet she’s easily one of the most beautiful women in the country. Literally.

She’s wearing a silk, strapless, peplum dress. It’s 2011. She adds a strand of pearls and a velvet fitted jacket from J. Crew. She’s exquisite. Her highlighted blond hair is…stunning. Big, sexy brown eyes. She looks like Scotia with a Nordic German accent that allows the highlights to…make her look…Heavenly.

I’m…thrilled. Except I’m dead.

Eric walks up to her. Talks to her briefly. “You should…listen to the Holy Ghost more, Lacey.” he says out of time.

Hope Overture by Clint Mansell & The Kronos Quartet plays.

0:31

“I do.” says Lacey, sincerely hurt.

“You know, Matthew’s not your cousin.” says Eric. “Not…enough.”

1:40

She weeps, falls to the ground, and dies. And then instantly pops back up again. Because…you can’t get out of the Fallen World easily, at least, through just tears and fainting. As real as tears and crumbling may be. The Fallen World is that much of a festering, possessive cesspool. And always has been. It’s A FALLEN WORLD. …WAKE…UP.

It’s evil. And evil is real. Evil…is not…a joke.

1:45

2:04

“What do you want me to do!???” says Lacey, quietly.

2:17

“Whatever you want?” says Eric.

Lacey looks confused.

The song starts over.

“What do you want me to do!?” she says.

ANYTHING!” says Eric. “Literally ANYTHING!”

Lacey thinks.

Everybody Got Their Something by Nikka Costa plays.

Lacey takes a deep breath.

Stands-up.

She walks over to Eric and pushes him. Not hard. Just pushes him. Then she smiles and walks-off, unsure of where she’s going.

The Green Mile by Thomas Newman plays.

Lacey walks out into the hallway of the Hotel. And strongly considers just killing herself as quickly as possible.

1:52

She falls to the ground in dry tears. Because she has no tears left to cry.

A random guest walks up to the counter of the hotel. They temporarily block the light from the overhead lights, cast in her direction.

She looks up. Squints. Blinks. Nobody is there. And the swallowing silence of the empty hall envelopes her. Comforts her, ultimately.

She stands up before anyone sees her. Takes another deep breath. Surely, as bad as things are…things would be so much worse if anyone saw her in this state. So she calms herself and takes yet another deep breath.

Makes a duck face.

Thinks.

“You should go back inside and say exactly what you want to say…to everyone!!!” says Scott Fitzgerald.

Circus Mouse by Thomas Newman plays.

Lacey dashes back into the dance hall.

Looks around the room.

Thinks.

She races up to Matthew.

0:34

“You’re damn good-looking.

I resent that…you’re marrying such a preening bitch.” says Lacey.

“You’re evil. Or you’re cold. Or you’re…baffling.” Lacey says to Kate.

Then she walks over to the Boomers at the Nesheim party.

“Why are you all so smug? What in the world are you all so smug about!?” she says.

Then she takes yet another deep breath, dashes over to the refreshments and knocks over table. It falls to the ground. She stands and stares at it happily.

“I have always wanted to do that.” she says.

Then she turns around to the stares of her entire Nesheim family.

0:54

She walks back out of the door. Into the hallway.

Zelda glares at her. Lacey rolls her eyes. Walks past several confused demons.

“I need a shot-gun.” says Lacey to God.

1:11

The song ends.

“Ahh…to kill yourself! Of course.” says God in a posh British accent to Lacey.

He understands.

Lithium by Nirvana plays.

“You aren’t going to let me shoot myself. Are you?” she says, walking through the parking lot.

1:04

“Not…necessarily.” says God.

She stands and thinks. “Alright.” she says. “Now what?”

God and Lacey think. “I’ll go nap.” she decides.

She walks back inside. Goes into her hotel room. Shuts the door. Locks it. Bolts it. And naps.

“That’s not what was supposed to have happened!” says a dead woman reading. 

“But that’s what would’ve really happened if her family had just let her do whatever she wanted. That’s possibly the scent of what she would do. That’s pretty much all she does is just say the truth maybe do something that no one can quite fathom that may have been a Biblical reference, it’s unclear. I’m not sure why she had such a strong desire to topple over the beverage table but that was some very sincere wish of hers that she kept secret, so I guess that’s about all. Put a few people in their place and took off.” says Michael Rockefeller laughing about the beverage table.

“Have you ever really felt a part of the world even if there’s reincarnation or have you pretty much just always been looking for a righteous fight or a country to start?” says a Black woman. 

“No I’ve never had a great relationship with a mother possibly almost ever or they’ve always just died so no I don’t know that I’ve ever really felt all that attached. It’s…umm…in a way through my kids or through the beauty of certain places and people, but possibly through my ability to love, I mean, that’s the thing Lem is my everything so to speak. I’m not soulless. I just-I don’t really have much of an attachment to the Fallen World. It’s never really quite seemed like much of anything other than a place where people suffer ah…possibly. Outside of maybe a few things here and there umm…like Great Britain and tea and truly good things. That’s probably about it.” says Lacey.

“Yeah. I can see why suicides are up. GOOD GOD!” says Matt’s first cousin.

Later.

Nope. None of this happened.

“You were supposed to stay here, Lacey!” yells Geoffrey Hughes.

She feels restless. “It’s very hard for me to obey that. I’m sorry.”

“If there’s reincarnation, we wouldn’t have been keen on sharing you.” says the UK.

“When can I go home?” asks Lacey.

“In God’s good time and not until then.” says Geoffrey.

Later.

“I would like to have a conversation with Lacey taking into consideration that she maybe really is British. She’s not just passionately in love with them.” says Jan Hertel. 

“Oh yes, I’d be curious to see what you have to say!” says Lacey.

“You’re a huge bitch!” says Jan. 

Lacey smiles. “What-what do you mean by that?” says Lacey.

“Just…you’re so…difficult!” says Jan.

“I don’t understand what you’re talking about entirely. I’m sorry. I know what you mean and yet I don’t. Go on.” says Lacey.

“Well Matthew is obviously in love with you-“ He says.

“Not necessarily. Possibly, but not necessarily.” says Lacey.

“How in Hell do you think he’s not in love with you?” says Jan.

“Oh my God! It’s incredibly complicated. I’m sorry for swearing, but I’m losing my fucking temper.

What right do you have to sit there like a prickish bitch yourself asking such fucking questions?” says Lacey.

“You’re extremely angry!” he says.

“Oh gee what a genius observation. Congratulations! You win the award!” says Lacey.

He laughs and then stops.

“Lacey, you’re confused!” says Jan.

“Gee you think! No I can’t fucking make heads or tails of fucking nothing, practically. …That’s not true, but I am definitely very confused, extraordinarily confused. I-I can’t fucking figure out what anyone is fucking saying. Well not really…but it’s a mess.” says Lacey.

“Why Royal Crown Derby?” asks Jan.

“Why not?

Why are you so offensive about everything British is it because you fucking lost the war and sucked shit?” says Lacey.

“Yes actually that probably is why, yes. Yes.” he says.

“Is it really that simple?” says Lacey.

“Yeah, I guess so.” he says.

“Why are you bitter about it though, because your country is doing a heck of a lot better, you’re well-off and I don’t understand why you’re so personally offended.” says Lacey.

“Because I feel-I feel this makes me sad.” says Jan.

“Well Jan I can’t fix the war for you. I’m sorry it’s too late.“ says Lacey.

“Oh wait, why didn’t you come back sooner?” he says.

“Why are you so fucking determined to crucify her. You’re not the only person like that, but it’s getting sick!” yells Marsie at Jan.

“Why didn’t I come back sooner? Because I didn’t think it was wise if there’s reincarnation, It just wasn’t wise. I was waiting and then it never worked out. If if there’s reincarnation it just never made sense it never made sense and actually I shouldn’t of come back at all, I wasn’t going to after Lem started using drugs. I assumed that all bets are off. It was just done. There was nothing that was good that was going to come from us coming back. It was just over, but then Honey Fitz really did trick me into coming back if there’s reincarnation. He really did. He tricked me into thinking I could be Tonnette Nesheim‘s daughter, seemingly. She was very beautiful. And she was my grandmother, I thought. But if there’s reincarnation, they promised me that she’d be my mother, and I had brain trauma when I died and as you’re reincarnating, if there is reincarnation, there might not be, but if there is, you start coming back through the same sort of physical body that you had. It’s-it’s sort of like you start delving into the past of yourself in the reincarnation process and so I had severe brain trauma. Severe brain damage when I died. And it’s kind of funny but it’s also not funny at all…so Fitz was confusing me. I was-I was sitting around waiting…thinking that maybe I was gonna have to reincarnate with Lem. Maybe we were gonna have to do it all over again…or something…if there is reincarnation. See he died in 1981 and I was born in 1983. …So I sat-I sat there waiting, thinking, ‘We will just have to go back.’ You know? And that didn’t work or something?

Anyway…if it’s real…I didn’t-I did not see him. I skipped forward. They really did a horrible thing to us if there’s reincarnation. His family is ghastly. I’m sorry God bless them but they’re ghastly people in their own…ahh…way. Ghastly. And God bless them regardless, but I sat there in 1982 waiting for Lem…and they told me that Tonette would be my mother. Tonette Nesheim. And I wanted her to be my mother…because if there’s reincarnation she’s Nefertiti. So I wanted her to be my mother. But she was in her 60s or something? Maybe 50s or 60s? In the early 1980’s and she couldn’t have kids…but they guaranteed me that she was going to be my mom and being as brain damaged and ditzy as I am, I-I-I believed them. They were…very,!very pushy about it. He said, ‘Come on! Come on! Tonette agreed to be your mother! We gotta go!’ And so I went for it if there’s reincarnation. That’s what happened. I went for it and I got stuck.

I don’t know if I was Tom’s daughter and that was how they tricked me because he was so old? I don’t know if that was the trick…that they used? Like…it’s just that she’s old and he’s old? My brain was too damaged and I’m ditzy possibly so…ah…it really didn’t make any sense but I didn’t notice. I also could’ve been subconsciously thinking of Sarah in the Bible and Abraham…but anyway, it made sense to me and I think I thought, ‘This is fine! That’ll work. If there’s reincarnation! I’ll be Tonette’s daughter!’ No…Tonette was very beautiful very, very beautiful and no I’m not her daughter. I was never her daughter but I think I wanted to be and if there’s reincarnation no I wanted to be her daughter possibly…umm…so, so that’s just it. It just didn’t quite work out. And so now I’m stuck if there’s reincarnation. I’m stuck for the time being, in the Lord’s will.” says Lacey.

“Do you realize what Royal Crown Derby looks like?” he says.

“What do you mean exactly?” says Lacey.

“It’s just-It’s so-It’s so fancy.” he says.

“We’ll OK Jan if you’re trying to be a bitch about it.

There’s a difference between Lenox China. That’s too shiny and Royal Crown Derby. Royal Crown Derby is not as shiny.” says Lacey.

“OK?” he says.

“Lenox China? It’s too shiny for my taste. The kind of food that I make tends to be very British or Jewish. I make briskets. I make pot pies. I make roasted chicken. I make lasagna. I make French Beef Stew. I make things that are hearty! Baked salmon, Indian dishes, curries…and that is not appetizing…on an overly shiny plate. ….Royal Crown Derby is perfect. It’s very well-made. I think it’s actually still made in Great Britain and it’s a little more expensive but if you get the right pattern it’s actually really not too fancy for an average decent dinner in a family.” says Lacey.

“You think Lenox is too expensive?” he says.

“What do you mean?” says Lacey.

“Like you think it’s- You think it’s too costly!?” he says.

“And this is exactly what I was just saying a while ago!

I have no fucking clue where you’re going with this conversation…and you used to do things like this to me all the fucking time in conversation. You sound exactly like how you used to sound when I’d talk to you on Instagram and over email. I don’t know where you’re going right now with what you’re saying! Royal Crown Derby is more expensive than Lenox China. And based on what I just said it’s freaking obvious that I can afford both…so where the fuck are you going in this conversation…other than trying to do what? Insult me? What’s your fucking problem?” yells Lacey.

“I faked being rich.” says Jan.

“Well, congratulations that’s terrible! Do you want to have a conversation or just sit there and bitch at me?” says Lacey.

“I don’t understand Royal Crown Derby. It feels way above my price range and it intimidates me and yeah I know it’s not necessarily any more expensive necessarily than Royal Copenhagen, I know it’s a little nicer than Royal Copenhagen and so I get intimidated and then I lash out in a narcissistic way.” says Jan.

“You know if there’s reincarnation I don’t think we’re supposed to be talking to each other like this. You seem like a potentially nice person in some part of your heart and I’m not trying to be obnoxious to you I-I-I-I just don’t think the way you do. I’m sorry.” says Lacey.

“Why not Royal Copenhagen?” he says.

“Because it’s blue. I’ve decorated with some Royal Copenhagen. I bought a few things and it’s just too depressing to look at while you’re eating. It’s beautiful to have on a wall but I can’t look at it while I’m eating. The blue! I think blue supposedly suppresses your appetite…and I just I cannot psychologically look at the color blue while I’m eating. It’s beautiful but I genuinely can’t stand it.

You asked, I’m sorry.” says Lacey.

He looks at her confused. “So you just eat off of white plates?” he says. 

“Yes, and cream. Wedgewood is cream but Royal Crown Derby make some decent plates that I think should work. But-but no I prefer white or cream, really…because it’s just so much more easy to enjoy your food when there’s nothing in the background distracting you from eating it.” says Lacey.

“ so you make gourmet dishes Lacey or you make food that’s very appetizing the smell, the color, the consistency the plating is extraordinarily superior to most people and you don’t want the dish to distract from the food is that correct?” says Dmitry.

“Yes, my mother used Pfaltzgraff stuff! The one who raised me. Maybe stoneware. I think it was umm…

And that was years ago, before when it wasn’t made in China. I think hers was made probably, I don’t know where, maybe in the US. I don’t know. But it was I think a wedding present to them in the early 80’s? They still sell the pattern but it’s probably made in China, but I grew-up with her making food and serving it on those plates and it got in my head that that really looked good and so I just do the same thing now.” says Lacey.

“That’s very well-bred.” says Dmitry.

“You know it is, but I didn’t think we were still having that discussion. I mean I would just use Pfaltzgraff except for the fact that it’s made in China but Royal Copenhagen or rather Royal Crown Derby is still made in Great Britain. So…” says Lacey.

“I fucked-up! I really fucked-up!” says Matt.

“Now Matthew when you say that you fucked-up are you saying that when you fucked your wife Kate you were socio-economically fucking up? Like you really you really were fucking-up like you did well. Or did how you come to this conclusion? Did you research her family history or are you talking about something else?” says Lacey.

“I mean that I screwed- I mean that-“ says Matt. “I shouldn’t have put you in that position.”

“Do you mean you shouldn’t have put me in the position at your wedding that I was in or what?” says Lacey.

“Yes, I shouldn’t have put you in a position where you were angry at anyone who I was going to marry.” he says.

“How did I get in my head that you were so attractive? I barely saw you.” says Lacey.

“I thought of you and I was not honest about it.” he says.

“It’s very hard for me to believe that our thoughts are that powerful.” says Lacey.

“Well they are!” he says.

“What was I supposed to do?” says Lacey.

“What brands of plates do you recommend or do you use?” says Jan.

“Royal Copenhagen is an excellent, beautiful maker of China. I absolutely adore that pattern. I just personally can’t eat off of it.

Homer Laughlin. You have to be careful on Homer Laughlin? I did a lead test on some Homer Laughlin that I have and I think it’s safe but I wouldn’t guarantee everything made by them is safe but I think it might be but no I like Homer Laughlin a lot. I love Homer Laughlin.

Are used to love Lenox. But now it’s made in China. I used to love Lenox.

Royal Crown Derby.

Meakin? I think it’s J. G. Meakin? The ironstone! The the china with the patterns on them isn’t a safe necessarily, but I think the ironstone is. 

Wedgwood. I love my old Wedgwood! I Wedgwood, again, is made in china. No…but I love old Wedgwood. It probably is dangerous but no I love Wedgwood.” says Lacey.

“I should have said to you, ‘You look very pretty tonight.’” says Matthew.

“Before or after you stared into my eyes?” says Lacey.

“Before!” he says.

“Why have you all ganged up on her? It is one of the most disgusting things I’ve ever seen.” says God.

“That would’ve definitely made it less sexual. You want to play that scene out?” says Lacey.

“Yes.” he says.

“Alright then let’s do it!” says Lacey.

“You look awfully pretty tonight!” says Matthew

“Oh thank you! I dye-Well I bleach my hair blonde. It’s actually sort of a mousy brown but I think it looks nice lighter.” says Lacey.

He stares at her.

“You don’t look the same as I remember you looking.” he says.

Lacey goes into shock. As she’s writing this. But for the better.

“You know you don’t look the same either. You look different too.” says Lacey. 

“Why did you come to my wedding?” he says.

“You don’t want me here?” says Lacey.

“I do want you here.” he says.

“You wouldn’t rather I leave? I’m mean I could but it would probably be pretty challenging.” says Lacey.

“Let’s talk!” he says.

Let’s go talk and so we do and then we talk. 

Later.

Phantom Thread by Jonny Greenwood plays.

Turns out Lacey and Matt would have run off. If they’d talked. Lacey is in shock about it.

The song ends.

The Hem by Jonny Greenwood plays.

“So we’re gone. Yes. Gone. …And I’m texting my parents.” says Matt.

1:50

“Mom and dad…I’m gone. I left. We’re fine. Karrie is with me. I’m sorry I left you all there. Please don’t worry. Karrie is sorry too. Please keep us informed of any issues.” says Matt. “Love you.”

And then what?

2:09

Sandalwood I plays.

The song plays.

“Where are they!??” asks Matt’s mom.

Moments later.

2:31

“I guess we have to tell Kate.” says his mom.

Everybody Got Their Something by Nikka Costa plays.

She walks off. Silently. Sits in her room. And begins texting him.

But Matt has his phone turned-off.

And hours later…he calls his mom. “How’s Kate?”

“Have you read the messages I’m sure she’s sent you?” she says.

“No.” he says.

“She’s gone home with her parents.” says his mom.

“Okay. Well…we’ll see you later.” says Matt.

The Nesheims meet for breakfast:

Mark…laughs. Mark can’t stop laughing. “Yeah!!” he says.

Matt’s father cries.

Maria is in shock.

Stephen says, “Are they…married?”

“Of course they are!!” says Mark.

“Yeah. Probably.” says Maria.

“Becca is in her room, crying with Tessa.” says Terese. “I was up there this morning too.” she says suddenly crying.

De-Tuned Quartet by Jonny Greenwood plays.

Maria screamed. And then almost fainted. When she first heard.

And if we’re understanding correctly…Kate’s parents would have thrown her a pizza party.

But of course…none of this happened.

2:27

The song ends.

HW/ Hope of New Fields by Jonny Greenwood plays.

Instead Matt starred her in the eyes. Lacey felt bad. And the next day Matt and Kate got married.

And then last January…13 years after they got married…he killed himself.

“Oh, that’s a good number. This is a great sign. Wonderful omen!” says JD Rockefeller.

Proven Lands by Jonny Greenwood plays.

0:51

“Do you know that part of the reason-Part of the reason why she didn’t see me is because of all of you!? She assumed that I was just as snotty and heartless and disinterested in her, as most of you have been!” yells Matt at his family, the Nesheims.

“Why didn’t you just run off?” yells Kate.

“BECAUSE WE BOTH LOVED YOU!!

BECAUSE! BECAUSE YOU MATTER!” says Matt to Kate.

She closes her eyes and sighs and nods

“Matt what made you think of Karrie?” asks his father-in-law.

“Aging. Life. Regret. …A lot.” says Matt.

“So her neighbors know Tim Walz?” he says.

“We go way back. Yes!” says her neighbors.

“What’s the point of bringing that up?” asks Matt’s aunt.

“I AGREE!!!” yells Lacey’s father-in-law.

Lacey’s step-mother-in-law Jill rolls her eyes and walks-off.

“HER NAME IS JILL!??” screams Matt’s mom.

“Yes. Why!?” asks Lacey’s father-in-law.

“THAT’S MY NAME!” says Jill.

“HOLD ON!!” yells the UK. “Who was your grandfather named after?”

“King Edward.” says Matt.

“Of GREAT BRITAIN!?” asks the UK.

“Yes!! Of COURSE!” yells Grandpa Pantell.

“There’s comfort in all this.” says the UK.

“That’s true.” says Lacey.

“I’m sorry.” says Lem to Lacey. “This is a brutal thing to analyze.”

“It’s almost nightmare. Because I can’t seem to wrap my mind around it. …What do I do?” says Lacey.