S01 E07 “Above the Sea of Fog” Santa Teresa, California Halloween Night 2018 I t’s October 31, a Wednesday night. Alix is wasted, performing a balancing act on a curb outside a bar on the outskirts of Santa Teresa. There’s no traffic in sight. It’s strangely warm. The only sound is the soft electric hum of a transformer. A loose baby feather from Alix’s homemade angel wings drifts slowly towards the ground. It lands on the toe of Alix’s shoe, which is covered in mud. Alix looks up from their shoes. The warm glow of headlights appears on the horizon. Alix watches the truck drive closer and closer until it stops right in front of them. Dolly rolls down the passenger side window and throws Alix a compassionate smile. “Thank you,” Alix says. Dolly’s kitchen provides a calming escape from the outside world, and after a quiet, self reflective car ride home together, Alix begins to open up. “All I wanted was for Hana to take a little break with me. It would have been five or ten minutes, tops,” Alix vents over a warm cup of chamomile tea. “Five or ten minutes can be really precious when you’re trying to figure something out,” Dolly notes from across the kitchen. “I guess,” Alix says, skeptically. “I just don’t know why they invited me on the trip, then.” “I can’t really say for sure about that,” she admits. “I just feel like we’re not even here together,” Alix blurts. “There’s so much to see if you just take a second to walk around. It’s mind-blowing.” “It really is a special place,” Dolly agrees. “Like,” Alix continues. “The other day I was down by the swamp and I saw this thing. I can’t explain it. It was like a thin ribbon, and it was pink. It wasn’t an animal. It was just a shape. It moved so fast, like it was being called somewhere.” Alix notices Dolly turn to stare out the window above the sink, transfixed, just like when they were having prosecco together. Alix realizes that she’s staring in the direction of the swamp. For some reason, Alix is scared. “Dolly,” Alix starts slowly. “Who is that woman with you in the photo hanging in the hall upstairs?” To Alix’s surprise Dolly smiles, still gazing out the window. “That’s Maggie,” Dolly says, proudly. “My partner.” Alix perks up. “That photo is from the day our house was completed,” Dolly continues. “We built this place together, a long time ago.” Dolly finally turns around to face Alix. “All of the art here is Maggie’s. It was her family’s, once, but she inherited it and took care of it. Now it’s mine, although I was never much of a collector.” Dolly turns to wash her hands, which, as far as Alix can tell, are already clean. “Not to be mistaken,” Dolly continues, shutting off the faucet and grabbing a towel to dry her hands. “We shared everything, and loved everything we shared. The house, the property, the furniture, our books, the sheep. Everything was about us, together. But the collection was a direct extension of Maggie. So when-” Dolly’s hands tighten around the towel. “When she passed away last year, this is what she left. All around me, around every corner. She’s everywhere.” Dolly and Alix share a brief, respectful silence. “Hana reminds me of her,” Dolly tells Alix. “Quite a bit, actually.” “Um,” Alix squirms. “How?” “They’re both infinitely curious. And a bit obsessive.” Dolly explains. “The other day Hana was telling me things about my art that I never knew.” “I have this photo of Hana hanging on my fridge in New York,” Alix starts, and clears their throat. “They’re ten years old and on some vacation with their parents. It’s my favorite piece of art that I own.” Alix laughs, “Hana won’t even look at it when they come over. They never say anything, but I sort of love watching them avoid it at all costs.” Dolly finally joins Alix at the table. “I got the photo when Hana was moving and dug it up from some box,” Alix continues. “They didn’t want it anymore. They said they couldn’t remember why they had it in the first place. It’s not like they were ashamed of it. Just detached. Like, when I asked them to tell me about the photo, they basically recited their tour guide’s every word. But they told it like it was common knowledge, not like something they experienced back in 1998. It’s like they forgot they were there, or forgot they were the kid in the photo, or….” Alix halts. “I don’t know why I went there,” they shift. “Hana works a specific way. They needed to come here and focus and find some structure. I just…” Alix can’t find the words. “You need something else,” Dolly suggests. She waits for Alix’s reaction, which is an eventual nod, and continues, “So why did you come here?” Alix’s stares blankly at the table. “Because I love them.” “And they love you, very much.” Dolly assures Alix, and continues. “But that’s not why they’re here.” Alix is frozen. “I think Hana is just focused on the destination, not the journey. At least right now,” Dolly explains. “You’re going to be creative no matter where you apply it.” Alix nods and then admits, “I think I want to go home.” “You can,” Dolly assures them. “But they’re not finished.” Dolly takes a deep breath. “Alix, sweetie, love is not a destination.” “.....” “Goodbye Hana” © 2020 Samara, Inc. Privacy