[ He isn't sure why he expects rejection or dismissal. If anyone would understand, it would be her. But how much does she know, anyway? The Dark Place is bigger and more dangerous than anyone could even imagine, and since Alan hasn't really told anyone what it's like, how could anyone know? At least, the descriptions that probably existed did not go into detail, and maybe that was for the best.
And maybe Alan should simply try to put his harrowing experiences behind him and find a way to live in the world again. Easier said than done, however. It felt as though the dark was still very much around him, and he was alone in it. If only he could just let someone in. ]
Director.
[ The pull of the Dark Place might be still tugging on him, but he retains enough awareness to still know that she is talking to him. ]
Tell me something, if you don't mind. Humor me, I guess. [ She says she knows what this is like, but he wants to find that out for himself. ] How did you become who you are now? [ Belatedly, he realizes he has asked two questions, but she isn't obligated to answer this one. ] If you knew... if you'd seen what it was like there... [ He shakes his head again. ] No, you're better off not knowing.
[ The things that haunted him and still haunt him now are best left unsaid. No one needs to even imagine the things he's experienced. ]
For what it's worth, I- I appreciate that you came. [ Even if it turns out that there's nothing she can do. At least for the moment, he's not alone. He spent so long in the Dark Place with no one for company but nightmares come to life. Jesse might not know all the details, but she's here, isn't she? That does mean something to him. ]
You don't seem crazy. I mean, you're the Director, and that means that you can do things other people can't. But- [ He cuts himself off there, because she doesn't need him dumping his problems onto her.
Alice. Focus on Alice. Then you can answer more of her questions.
But as Jesse begins to explain what she knows about Alice, Alan's expression changes. First it's impassive, but then it gradually shifts to one of something like fear. There's a little sadness there too, but he would hide that if he could.
He doesn't even know what's worse, the fact that Alice was hounded by nightmares of a man that looked like him but wasn't, or that she had another near-brush with Hartman again. And he feels both happy and sad to learn that she is out there somewhere living her life. He's glad for her, but sad for himself, because he doesn't know if he'll ever be able to do the same.
Jesse, it seems, isn't finished, and she adds on more information about the film Alice made. For his part, Alan isn't sure how he should feel about this. Mass murderer, psychopath... Wake knew those words weren't wrong, at least not technically. The Dark Place had changed him, perhaps permanently. If all it took to sway the opinions of the general public was a video created by Alice- no, Wake knew it wasn't that simple.
Again, Alan shakes his head, a little harder this time as if that will dislodge and drive away the intrusive thoughts in his mind. ]
She's alive, and hopefully happy. That's- Well, that's all I could really hope for.
no subject
And maybe Alan should simply try to put his harrowing experiences behind him and find a way to live in the world again. Easier said than done, however. It felt as though the dark was still very much around him, and he was alone in it. If only he could just let someone in. ]
Director.
[ The pull of the Dark Place might be still tugging on him, but he retains enough awareness to still know that she is talking to him. ]
Tell me something, if you don't mind. Humor me, I guess. [ She says she knows what this is like, but he wants to find that out for himself. ] How did you become who you are now? [ Belatedly, he realizes he has asked two questions, but she isn't obligated to answer this one. ] If you knew... if you'd seen what it was like there... [ He shakes his head again. ] No, you're better off not knowing.
[ The things that haunted him and still haunt him now are best left unsaid. No one needs to even imagine the things he's experienced. ]
For what it's worth, I- I appreciate that you came. [ Even if it turns out that there's nothing she can do. At least for the moment, he's not alone. He spent so long in the Dark Place with no one for company but nightmares come to life. Jesse might not know all the details, but she's here, isn't she? That does mean something to him. ]
You don't seem crazy. I mean, you're the Director, and that means that you can do things other people can't. But- [ He cuts himself off there, because she doesn't need him dumping his problems onto her.
Alice. Focus on Alice. Then you can answer more of her questions.
But as Jesse begins to explain what she knows about Alice, Alan's expression changes. First it's impassive, but then it gradually shifts to one of something like fear. There's a little sadness there too, but he would hide that if he could.
He doesn't even know what's worse, the fact that Alice was hounded by nightmares of a man that looked like him but wasn't, or that she had another near-brush with Hartman again. And he feels both happy and sad to learn that she is out there somewhere living her life. He's glad for her, but sad for himself, because he doesn't know if he'll ever be able to do the same.
Jesse, it seems, isn't finished, and she adds on more information about the film Alice made. For his part, Alan isn't sure how he should feel about this. Mass murderer, psychopath... Wake knew those words weren't wrong, at least not technically. The Dark Place had changed him, perhaps permanently. If all it took to sway the opinions of the general public was a video created by Alice- no, Wake knew it wasn't that simple.
Again, Alan shakes his head, a little harder this time as if that will dislodge and drive away the intrusive thoughts in his mind. ]
She's alive, and hopefully happy. That's- Well, that's all I could really hope for.
[ So why does he feel worse now than before? ]
Uh... So what do you want to know?