Opus 40: The Master-Work of Environmental Artist Harvey Fite Page #3

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I don't like someone else's hands

on my girls.

I don't like to think about it.

It makes me sick.

Are you scientific in your thought?

Yes.

Are you concerned with

the impression you make?

Mm...

I don't understand.

Yes, you do.

Well, most people are asses,

if that's what you mean.

Are you usually truthful to others?

No. I don't know.

- Sometimes.

- Are you unpredictable?

(FLATULENCE)

(SLIGHT CHUCKLE)

Silly.

Silly animal.

- I couldn't help it.

- Dirty animal.

Sorry.

It's good to laugh

during processing.

Sometimes we forget,

even if it is the sound of an animal.

(BOTH LAUGHING)

Freddie Quell, test session,

March 5th, 1950, 1800 hours.

Aboard the sailing vessel Alethia.

LD, MOC, MD,

logged and approved.

Should we sample another sip

before we join them upstairs?

Wait, that's it?

For now.

No, no, no, no.

You got to ask me more.

This is fun.

Come on, you got to ask me more.

Could you answer the next series of

questions without blinking your eyes?

- Yes.

- Without fear and hesitation,

- answer as quickly as you can?

- Sure.

- Again.

(CLEARS THROAT)

(EXHALES)

Starting now,

you are not to blink.

If you blink we go back

to the start.

Infringement.

You blinked.

Starting now,

you are not to blink.

If you blink,

we go back to the start.

Do you often think about

how inconsequential you are?

No.

Do you believe that God will save you

from your own ridiculousness?

No.

Have you ever had intercourse

with someone inside your family?

Yes.

Have you ever had intercourse

with someone inside your family?

- Yes.

- Who?

- My auntie.

- Have you killed anyone?

- No.

- Maybe?

- Not me.

- Have you killed anyone?

- No.

- How many times did you

- have intercourse with your aunt?

- Three times.

- Where is your aunt now?

- I don't know.

Would you like to have

intercourse with her again?

No.

- Do you regret this?

- No.

- Where is your mother?

- I don't know. Loony...

- Infringement.

- F***!

- Back to the start.

- OK.

Do you often think about

how inconsequential you are?

Yes.

- Do you believe that God will save you?

- No.

Have you ever had sex

with a member of your family?

- Yes.

- Are you lying?

- No.

- Who?

- My Auntie Bertha.

- Where is your aunt now?

I don't know, maybe home.

- Are you lying?

- No.

- Are you a liar?

- Yes.

- Have you killed anyone?

- Yes.

- Who?

- Japs in war.

- Do you regret this?

- No.

- What are you running from?

- Maybe I hurt a man, I think.

Maybe he's dead.

I don't know.

- Where?

- In Salinas.

He stole a batch of my booze

and he drank it.

- Is this booze you make poison?

- Not if you drink it smart.

- Are you trying to poison me?

- No.

- Where is your father?

- Dead.

- How did he die?

- Drunk.

Where is your mother?

Where is your mother?

- Loony bin.

- Is she psychotic?

Yes.

- What is the name of your aunt?

- Bertha.

How did you come to have sex

with your Auntie Bertha?

- I was drunk and she looked good.

- And you did it again and again?

Yes.

Have you ever had bad thoughts

about Master Peggy?

- Yes.

- What did you think?

- I thought you were fools.

- Am I a fool to you?

- No, sir.

- If you were locked in a room

for the rest of your life,

who would be in there with you?

- Doris.

- Who's Doris?

Best girl I ever met.

The girl I'm going to marry one day.

- Is she in Lynn?

- Yes.

- Lynn, Massachusetts?

- Yes, sir.

- Then why aren't you with her?

- I'm an idiot.

- Why aren't you with that lovely girl?

- I got no reason. I'm a fool.

- Do you love Doris?

- Yes.

- Is she the love of your life?

- Yes, sir.

- Then why aren't you with her?

- I don't know.

Yes, you do. Tell me why you're

not with her if you love her so much.

I told her I'd come back,

and I never went back

and now I just,

I got to get back to her.

- Why don't you go back?

- I don't know.

- Why don't you go back?

- I don't know!

Close your eyes.

MASTER:
Recall a word.

FREDDIE:
Flowers.

MASTER:
Can you recall

what you're wearing?

FREDDIE:
Navy blues.

MASTER:
What do you hear?

FREDDIE:
Voices inside.

Hello, Mrs. Solstad.

(INDISTINCT)

What made you come and see me?

FREDDIE:
I thought about you.

I thought about you

when I was away.

I got your letter.

They have you write

to soldiers at school?

I wrote to you.

How come you didn't write me back?

I don't know.

I did.

I just... never sent it.

Are you going to Briar Cliff?

I'm not in college.

What are you, a senior?

- Junior?

- No.

- You're not a freshman.

- I'm a sophomore.

- So how old does that make you?

- Sixteen.

- Did you think I was older?

- No.

I don't really remember.

- Can I kiss you?

(FREDDIE CHUCKLES)

MASTER:
Recall a sound.

She's singing.

(DORIS SINGING)

(MUMBLING LYRICS)

(HUMMING)

(CONTINUES HUMMING)

Her voice settles me down.

(CONTINUES HUMMING)

(JOINS IN HUMMING)

(SIGHS)

I'm meant to go to Norway.

- When's this?

- November.

What for?

I'm going to meet

the rest of our family.

Well, I don't think you should go.

No, you're not going to go.

I came all this way to see you,

and I want you to stay here.

All right.

All right.

Can you recall a word?

Any word.

Away.

- Say it again.

- Away.

- Who's saying "away"?

- I am.

MAN:
Outbound for Shanghai!

Need one able-bodied seaman,

one oiler and one baker.

The man McCoughsky.

The man Quell.

- Yeah.

- Oiler?

- Yes, sir.

- Done this before?

- Yes, sir.

- Tomorrow morning, 8:00.

- Hey.

- Hi.

Listen, I gotta go

somewhere for a few months,

so you should go to Norway.

- Where are you going?

- I got a job that takes me away.

- Where?

- I don't know.

Don't ask me so many questions.

I don't know anyway.

You know, I didn't know which window

was yours, and I always guess right.

You take your trip

and come back home,

and that's gonna be our time, right?

That's gonna be our time.

That's gonna be our time, right?

- Yeah.

- Right? Say yes.

- Say yes.

- Yes.

I'll be back in a minute.

MASTER:
Release and return to me.

Open your eyes.

Say your name.

- Freddie Quell.

- Are you here with me in 1950?

Yes.

End of session.

- How do you feel?

- I feel good.

- Left side of your body feel OK?

- Yes.

- Right side of your stomach?

- Yes.

- Headaches?

- A little.

Are you a member of

the Hidden Rulers?

- I don't know what that is.

- Any communist organization?

No.

Any invader force on this

planet or anywhere else?

No, sir.

You are the bravest boy

I've ever met.

To the poison.

(GRUNTS) Ah.

Well done.

Kools.

I like Kools.

Minty flavor.

Bill!

- Master, hello!

- Hello!

Welcome.

- Welcome back to New York City.

- Thank you.

- We are so happy you're here.

- I'm happy I'm here.

Peggy, watch your step.

Watch your step, everyone.

- Hello, Mildred.

- Hello.

- Nice to see you.

- Hello.

- Mildred.

- Oh, hello.

This is Mildred Drummond.

- Very nice to meet you.

- Wonderful to meet you finally.

- My pleasure.

- And...

The boat was perfect.

- Thank you. Peggy, my wife.

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