OCTOBER 25th, 2002
HAWTHORNE UNIVERSITY,
NORTH CAROLINA
11:17am
Not the first time that Viktor has fallen asleep fully clothed while at the computer. Not the first time while messaging Izzy, either. It's the kind of thing she'd laugh about if she knew.
His original increduilty at the idea that he slept through his alarm gives way to the realization that the watch seems to have died. Pretty early last night, too - he figures that he didn't notice because when he's on the computer, it's not like he has to check it.
VIKTOR
Anders?
Viktor listens for the telltale sounds of Anders - drumming, the pouring of glasses, Doc Martens. It doesn't sound like he's here, but he might be sleeping off a hangover.
VIKTOR
Hello?
Fridays are only Film Theory at 1pm, which is great for getting lunch at the cafe in the library when your roommate eats all the food in your minifridge while you're at work again.
12:16pm
ADAM
Oh my God, Viktor!
VIKTOR
Hey, man, what's up?
ADAM
Did you hear?
VIKTOR
...No? Hear what?
ADAM
When I heard, I was like, oh my God, I bet Viktor is going crazy, 'cause--
VIKTOR
Why? What are you talking about?
ADAM
Because, like, remember that presentation you showed us that you'd done in middle school? And they called your parents, and--
VIKTOR
What are you talking about?
ADAM
You don't remember that?
VIKTOR
No, of course I remember THAT, I meant like... Tell me what?
ADAM
Oh, Miller's missing!
VIKTOR
Miller? As in Mary Miller?
ADAM
Yeah, nobody's seen her for days, apparently.
VIKTOR
Is that really 'missing' when you're in university?
ADAM
I don't know, man, her friend was just freaking out all over campus. Putting posters up.
VIKTOR
Her friend?
ADAM
I don't know her name, I figured you would.
VIKTOR
Ha, why?
ADAM
You and Miller seemed like you would've gotten on.
VIKTOR
What does that mean?
ADAM
She was fucking weird, man.
12:47pm
VIKTOR
Fuck! Sorry.
NICHOLAS
Ugh! I-- give me that!
VIKTOR
Oh. I--
Viktor's mind blanks on what to say as Nicholas picks up the poster that he dropped and scurries away, out of sight.
Frequency illusion, also known as the
Baader-Meinhof phenomenon or
frequency bias, is a
cognitive bias in which, after noticing something for the first time, there is a tendency to notice it more often, leading someone to believe that it has an increased frequency of occurrence. It occurs when increased awareness of something creates the illusion that it is appearing more often.
[1]
It is considered mostly harmless, but can cause worsening symptoms in patients with schizophrenia. [2]
Viktor goes to class and mostly doesn't pay attention, the events of today sticking out strangely in his mind like an unscratchable itch. He decides to go back to his dorm as soon as class is over to see if Anders is back. He'll have to be, right?
2:21pm
VIKTOR
Anders?
ANDERS
Welcome back, buddy.
VIKTOR
I was texting you.
ANDERS
I saw.
VIKTOR
You didn't reply!
ANDERS
I didn't have anything to say.
VIKTOR
So, no? Your answer is no.
ANDERS
Is it not supposed to be?
Anders, bored, flips to the next page in his Playboy. A large-chested woman is revealed, but his eyes stay dead behind his glasses.
VIKTOR
You are actually impossible to talk to. It was just a question. Fuck.
There's silence for a moment. Anders doesnt flip the page, but when he starts speaking again he doesn't look at Viktor, either.
ANDERS
...So?
VIKTOR
So?
ANDERS
So, are you going to enlighten me on the latest on Miller?
VIKTOR
She's gone missing. Apparently.
ANDERS
Like, actually missing?
VIKTOR
What does that mean?
ANDERS
I mean, is she on a bender or is she dead in someone's basement?
Anders and Viktor became roommates because in Anders' first year, his roommate killed himself. It's a card he's not above playing, but it's never seemed to actually affect him.
VIKTOR
Ugh, I don't know, I just saw a poster.
ANDERS
A poster? Like a missing persons poster? Who put it up?
VIKTOR
Yeah, and I don't know the answer to that, either. Miller's friends with your bandmate, isn't she? With the belly button piercing?
ANDERS
Oh, Christ, Viktor.
VIKTOR
What?
ANDERS
I know you need another project after losing the short film contest, but--
VIKTOR
It doesn't count as losing if they disqualify you without even fairly considering--
It's only at this that Anders finally turns around to look at him.
ANDERS
Viktor. This isn't a project. It's a potential missing persons case. You can not solve it.
VIKTOR
Someone in our dorm building is just gone, Anders. Doesn't that freak you out?
ANDERS
It's not our job to be "freaked out." Not yours, and certainly not mine.
VIKTOR
Whatever. I guess so.
ANDERS
If you really want to talk to someone, you should talk to her boyfriend. If anyone offed
her, I bet it's him.
VIKTOR
What are you talking about?
ANDERS
That's the stereotype, isn't it? Girl goes missing, it's her husband, or boyfriend, ex, whatever.
VIKTOR
Miller had a boyfriend?
ANDERS
Uh, yeah. Prince Nicholas? The Hawthorne heir himself? If you're going to solve this, you're gonna have to get a better profile, man.
VIKTOR
The bottle blond guy? Fuck, I ran into him earlier. Literally. Do you know where he lives?
ANDERS
Yeah, let me go get his address for you.
VIKTOR
Fuck off.
ANDERS
Will do.
VIKTOR
You coming to synagogue tonight?
ANDERS
No, I have a date.
VIKTOR
On Shabbat?
ANDERS
You know it.
VIKTOR
I didn't, thats why I was asking.
ANDERS
Whatever.
7:13pm
Viktor decides he will definitely go to synagogue tonight, both because it's his usual routine anyway but especially because catching Anders during or after a date is never that fun.
RABBI
Viktor, do you want to read from the top? Page 72.
VIKTOR
Oh! Um, yeah... A Song for Shabbat. It is good to acclaim Adonai; to sing Your praise, exalted God...
CONGREGATION
To affirm Your love each morning, and Your faithfulness each night, to the music of the lute and the melody of the harp.
VIKTOR
Your works, Adonai, make me glad; I sing with joy of Your creation.
CONGREGATION
How vast Your works, Adonai! Your designs are beyond our grasp.
8:35pm
ZHENYA
Витя! Приветик! Как дела?
(Vitya! Hiya! How are you?)
VIKTOR
Привет, всё хорошо. У тебя есть работа для меня?
(Hi, Everything's fine. You have a job for me?)
ZHENYA
Доставка! Токарев, этаж три, комната семь.
Также дополнительно. Для тебя!
(Delivery! Tokarev, floor three, room seven. And extra. For you!)
ANDERS
How's David?
VIKTOR
He slipped and died on the way there. It was very tragic.
ANDERS
May his memory be a blessinggg.
VIKTOR
You're sooo sloshed right now.
ANDERS
You're literally, like, fucking high right now. Hypocrite.
VIKTOR
But you--
ANDERS
"Can't be addicted? Just dependent?"
VIKTOR
Yeah, totally.
ANDERS
Yeah, like "I smoke every night before bed but I could stop whenever I want."
VIKTOR
Like, whenever I run out I feel like the world is ending but at least I can still get it up.
ANDERS
I can-- I can totally get it up. So well.
VIKTOR
Yeah? You'll have to show me sometime.
ANDERS
I will. I'll-- I literally will.
Best Foreign Exploitation Films?
MethCarthyismoffline
09-26-2002, 17:21
One time I watched an Italian version of Last House on the Left by accident does that count
watchr90offline
09-26-2002, 17:25
do you mean the last house on the beach/la settime dona?
MethCarthyismoffline
09-26-2002, 17:28
No it was LHotL it was just in Italian
craniocideonline
09-26-2002, 17:33
Do you know Italian?
MethCarthyismoffline
09-26-2002, 17:40
No
watchr90offline
09-26-2002, 17:41
Why did you watch an Italian dub of Last House on the Left?
MethCarthyismoffline
09-26-2002, 17:52
I already said it was an accident I just found it and figured it was the normal version because they're all real freaks over there
professorgirlfagonline
09-26-2002, 17:54
Wes Craven is from Ohio
johnwilkesoswaldonline
09-26-2002, 17:59
New Wave Hookers 5
professorgirlfagonline
09-26-2002, 17:54
not foreign either, or even a film, it's porn
johnwilkesoswaldonline
09-26-2002, 17:59
I live in Canada
crpsefckronline
09-26-2002, 17:59
Any Argento, any giallo. methcarthyism is right, nobody is doing it like the Italians. Also watched Cannibal Holocaust a couple years back, it's in English but it's Italian so maaaybe that counts?
cunninglinguistonline
09-26-2002, 17:59
[replying to professorgirlfag]
alright, dr cinephile, what constitutes a “film” to you?
professorgirlfagonline
09-26-2002, 17:54
can't be called New Wave Hookers 5
craniocideonline
09-26-2002, 17:54
What happens in the first 4
johnwilkesoswaldonline
09-26-2002, 17:59
A lot
MethCarthyismoffline
09-26-2002, 17:21
[replying to crpsefckr]
Cannibal Holocaust is in English? Shit I watched an Italian dub of that one too