The Man from Earth: Holocene Page #5

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although I did try emailing.

Anyway, here's the thing.

I believe my professor is John Oldman.

He's going by the name

John Young, here at Chico.

Please call me back if you can, okay?

I really, really would love to talk with you.

I know you took a lot of crap for your

book, and I just want you to know...

I believe you. There is something

different about John Young.

My number's 530-555-0168.

Thank you.

I'll be...

(BIRDS CHIRPING)

(ADVENTUROUS MUSIC PLAYING)

(ENGINE REVS)

Oh, okay, thank you.

Um...

We will fax that right over.

Another one?

Yeah. Fax...

God, what year is this, anyway?

(GRUNTS)

Oh, God.

(CELL PHONE RINGING)

- Hello?

- Uh, hello.

I'm calling about your email.

Yes.

Who is this?

This is Violet Collsen.

Um...

- I'm sorry. Violet...?

- Collsen. From Central Idaho College.

Well, I've been retired for many years now,

and my daughter works at the college

in admissions just like I did.

But it was the funniest thing the other day.

She was working at home...

And I walked passed her desk

just when your email came.

- Oh, and...?

- So, I saw the photo

and recognized him immediately.

- You did?

- Yes, John Pleis.

Oh. He was a remarkable man.

You just never forget that kind of a person.

What do you remember about him?

Well, he was the best anthropology

professor we ever had.

He just had a way about him.

You felt you could tell him your secrets.

- And he always had the best advice.

- This was how long ago?

Oh, let's see.

That's about 1957?

And you remember him clearly?

Oh, yeah.

He was a very handsome man, too.

John Pleis?

P-L-E-I-S.

Funny name, kind of sticks in your head.

I tried to see what else I

could find before calling you,

and there was nothing.

He just disappeared.

Yes, he does that.

Well, thank you so much, Ms. Collsen.

This is your number

if I have any more questions?

- Yes, yes.

- Great. Thank you so much.

- Goodbye then.

- Goodbye.

Uhh...

Pleis.

- Pleistocene?

- Yes.

Okay. So we have contacted,

what, sixty small colleges

in fourteen states and this

was our second hit so far.

(CHUCKLES) Professor Young is a dead ringer

- for teachers in Idaho and...

- Western Wyoming.

John Mortem, archeology, 1979.

(CELL PHONE RINGING)

Hello?

- Isabel Chang?

- Yeah.

Hi. This is Arthur Jenkins.

- You've been trying to reach me.

- I have, yes.

Get me a picture.

A new, clean picture.

Email it or text it to this number.

- I emailed that one...

- No, no, no.

Brand-new, full face. Do that and we'll see.

Otherwise, we have nothing to talk about.

Thank you so much, Dr. Jenkins.

I'm so grateful...

You've...

(LINE BEEPS)

(EXHALES)

Hey, Professor.

We know we're early, but...

It's the last class, and we

don't have you next semester.

So we thought we'd have

a little goodbye party.

- I'm not going anywhere, you know.

- We know. But...

Here.

Cappuccino.

- My weakness. Thank you.

- We know. Yeah.

Quick, picture.

(SHUTTER CLICKS)

- Oh. Wait, can we go again?

- Just one more.

You know the rules.

- Please.

- Real quick. Real quick.

Mm-hmm.

Okay, class has begun.

Take your seats.

Cellphones off.

Thank you for the coffee.

Cellphones off!

- I knew it.

- He did it on purpose. I'm sure of it, man.

He didn't want his picture taken,

so he messed up both shots.

I guess after 14,000 years,

you learn a thing or two about hiding.

Yeah, but these days,

there's cameras everywhere.

He won't be able to hide anymore.

Whatever he's been doing all these years,

changing his identity, I mean, it's over.

- Time's up. Don't you see?

- What do you suggest?

Maybe we just talk to him.

Tell him the truth.

- What truth?

- That we know who he is.

Based on a discredited book

by a lonely old crank and

some circumstantial evidence?

We are not crazy people.

There is something special about John.

We all knew it the first time

we heard him speak. Right?

All throughout history,

there have been prophets,

visionaries.

Men and women touched by God.

I mean, who's to say John Young

isn't one of these people?

Why is that so impossible?

- Well, it sure isn't likely.

- Philip,

I'm not saying that he's the "son of God".

But if he is 14,000 years old,

then he's the wisest man in the world.

In history.

He should be listened to.

Followed.

Worshipped?

Is that what you're gonna say?

No.

- There could be a whole new...

- Religion?

Or something, around him.

A corrective for everything

everyone has gotten wrong about Jesus

for the past 2000 years.

If that story is true, then

everything I've believed for

half my life is a total lie.

Everything that millions and millions

of people throughout history

have believed, and lived and died for

is total bullshit.

So, no.

(CRICKETS CHIRPING)

Okay, okay. One clear picture of

Professor Young's face, and that's it.

(SUSPENSEFUL MUSIC

PLAYING)

(CAMERA SHUTTER CLICKS)

(GRUNTS SOFTLY,

SMACKS LIPS)

(WHISTLES)

(KEYBOARD CLACKING)

(COMPUTER CHIMES)

Hey, Betsy,

I gotta hit the road for a few days, honey.

But I'll have Suzanne

come by and check on you.

Be a good girl.

- Looks nasty.

- I got sloppy.

Stupid mistake.

What's up?

You worried about your grade?

- Because you shouldn't be, you did great.

- No, it's not that. But thanks.

Then what's going on?

Was there something specific, Tara?

I wanted to apologize for yesterday.

The pictures and everything.

We're just really going to miss you.

That's okay.

I'm going to miss you guys, too.

I maybe don't act it, but...

I've been lonely most of my life.

(VOICE FALLING)

Boys only cared about...

And the girls hated me because of it.

My parents' friends were

always being creepy and...

at some point you either become

the person everybody thinks

you are, or you just hide.

(CRYING) I didn't want to hide, so...

I'm sorry, I don't...

It's okay.

You're okay.

(SNIFFLES)

You're okay.

What was that?

Woah.

- No. No.

- You know you want me.

No, stop.

Stop.

You've been watching me for two years.

Don't deny it.

You're my student.

It's okay.

You're safe with me.

I know who you are.

I think it's amazing.

(SUSPENSEFUL MUSIC PLAYING)

I don't know what you think

you know about me,

but I need you out of my office.

Fine.

I'll make it easy for you.

Do not make me call security.

And tell them what?

That I assaulted you sexually?

Tara, this isn't happening.

- I'm sorry. I just...

- It's okay.

Oh, God.

(DOOR CLOSES)

I...

Well, you can't.

Spring semester starts in three weeks

and you have two sections already filled.

I'm sorry.

- Sorry?

- I can recommend a replacement.

I can't replace you, John, you know that.

The students love you.

Your class is filled in an hour.

If you wanted to teach a third

section, that would sell out, too.

What's going on here?

Something's come up and I have to go.

- What?

- It's personal.

Look.

I'll get Chandra and we can fix this...

No, Gill, please.

I just have to go.

Please, don't do this to me.

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