Mini-Episode: Encounter at Farpoint

[“Charlie on the MTA” plays.]

Voices
This is…
This is…
This is…
GREATER BOSTON

[The sound of scraping desks against a linoleum floor, which echoes around what must be a large space. A door opens and closes.]

Isabelle Powell—Jessica Washington

Looks like you could use a hand or two.

Charlotte Linzer-Coolidge—Summer Unsin [too exhausted to be surprised]

Oh. I think I just about got it, actually. What do you think?

Isabelle

Considering what this used to be, I’m firmly on the side of impressed. 

Charlotte

Can you believe it? It took forever to get rid of all the fake flames and the lighting. What kind of nonsense is that, a disaster as the centerpiece of your amusement park?

Isabelle

Used to be much more common than you think. The original Wonderland had something very similar, you know. 

Charlotte

I didn’t know that. Why do you think that is?

Isabelle

Hm. Same reason people slow down to take in a car crash on the highway and the reason they still make disaster movies. There’s something dark in the deep parts of people that just wants to watch it all burn, I suppose. I mean, [chuckles] that seems to be Emily’s whole policy plan, don’t ya think?

Charlotte

You know what’s really weird? 

Isabelle

Mmm?

Charlotte

I think they were living here. 

Isabelle

The Bespins?

Charlotte

I found some old pieces of their mail. Unpaid bills, mostly. And a few other items that made me think they were using it as, like… their home. 

Isabelle

Isn’t that something. 

Charlotte

It makes me almost feel bad for them. But I know I shouldn’t. 

Isabelle

Sure you can. You can pity someone and see them for the danger they are at the same time. Can’t let the pity overshadow the danger. But that doesn’t mean you can’t feel it.

Charlotte

Did you feel it for me? After our first meeting, when I called you impractical, did you have pity for me?

Isabelle [pause, clearly smiling]

Something along those lines. [ause.] You still feel bad about that, don’t you?

Charlotte

Yes.

Isabelle

Good. Guilt can be useful too. 

Charlotte

Can it?

Isabelle

Sure. It’s a reminder of the mistakes we made. When you feel that guilt deeply enough, it can prevent you from making those same mistakes again.

Charlotte

I hope so.

Isabelle

[Deep breath.] How are you doing, Charlotte?

Charlotte

I’m… fine?

Isabelle

Are you?

Charlotte

Really.

Isabelle

You sure?

Charlotte

Yeah!

Isabelle

I’m gonna ask one more ti—

Charlotte

I’m a mess. 

Isabelle

There it is. Let me ask you this, but I don’t mean it to sound judgmental. Why did you let her go?

Charlotte

The short answer is because she wanted to and because it was good for her. She changed. She had found a purpose, a drive; I saw this fire in her eyes I hadn’t seen for a long time. And I wanted to support her. The long answer? Is… well…

Isabelle

Complicated. I know. The last thing I wanted was for Isaiah to head right back into Red Line, especially with Emily running the rails. But when the time came, I just let him. In fact, I was happy for him. Proud of him. And all those feelings eclipsed my fear. Sometimes I tell myself this little lie. “He’ll be okay.” Do you do that?

Charlotte

Every minute, if not every second.

Isabelle

I used to say that all the time when he was arrested. But it was different then. I could do something. And I did do something. But maybe I did the wrong something. 

Charlotte

You did what you had to do. I hope you don’t think I hold any kind of resentment over that. Far from it. It showed me just how wrong everything was, even with my so-called best intentions.

Isabelle

Oh, I wouldn’t care what you thought about it. I didn’t care what anyone thought, in fact. I didn’t even stop to think about how Isaiah would have felt about it. I just did it. I—well. In a way, I made the same mistake you did. I reacted to a problem. But I didn’t consider all the people involved. 

Charlotte

I think that’s letting me off way too easy.

Isabelle

I didn’t say it was a perfect comparison. 

[They laugh. Contemplative piano music plays]

Isabelle[winding down]

Ahh. That boy. He came back from being inside that cell angrier than a goat on fire. And I couldn’t see why at first. He was happy to be out, then he clammed up like a clenched fist. I thought it was the isolation. I thought it was the injustice. I thought it was the Bespins. I thought it was you. And it was all that. But it was also me. Because he knew there was injustice in what I’d done too. He knew I didn’t do what I did for just anyone. I did it for him. He didn’t ask for that. I just did it. He knew not everyone had a bull-headed auntie out there running for mayor, with a loud enough voice to shut down half the city. They needed me too. So what should I have done? Let him sit in jail and try to win the race I eventually lost anyway? Or risk everything to help him? I couldn’t see the difference. What happened to him could’ve happened to anyone, so I used him as a symbol and turned it into my campaign. Maybe things would be different if I didn’t let my fear get the best of me. I don’t know. I tell myself it doesn’t matter all the time. But that might just be another little lie. 

Charlotte

I wouldn’t call them lies. They’re just… unfulfilled prophecies. 

Isabelle

Ha! I like that.

Charlotte

When I dropped out of the race, Gemma and I had a huge fight. One of our worst. She didn’t understand why I needed to let it go. And I got angry because at first she hated that I had done this at all. Hated what it did to our lives. I mean, we were trying to raise a newborn, and here I was, Mayor of Train Town? She tried to explain it to me, but I didn’t really understand. What I’d done had changed her too. And I threw that away without thinking of her, without understanding it would affect her at all, without even realizing it would. I didn’t talk to her. I didn’t think of her. I just… did it. 

Isabelle

Yes.

Charlotte

Which is why when she came to me and said she needed to go— 

Isabelle

You listened. You let her. 

Charlotte

Yeah. 

[Music stops.]

Isabelle

Mmm. [Pause.] When’s the next time you’re going to see her?

Charlotte

We had a date night about a month ago, and we have another one scheduled in a couple weeks.

Isabelle

You need a sitter? I’m great with kids.

Charlotte

Louisa and Michael are taking care of that. They’ve done it before. They enjoy it. 

Isabelle

They’re good folks, those two. And so are you. [Pause.] Charlotte. We need you here in Wonderland. 

Charlotte

I know. And… it’s fine. I never wanted to be a teacher, but I get that we have kids here, and until we figure out what’s going on with the Revere school districts, we have to do what we can and— 

Isabelle

I am not talking about the schools, although we need you for that, too. I’m talking about helping us lead. I’d love for you to be on our Council of Wonder. There’s room for you there, and you’re more than qualified. 

Charlotte

I’m… not qualified. I’m not qualified to be a teacher. I’m not qualified to be a mayor. I’m not qualified to be in government at all. You yourself told me that. And you were right! I’m tired of being pushed into doing things I shouldn’t be doing just because there’s a need to be doing them. That’s… a lot of responsibility. In the past I’ve jumped right in, partly because doing something was better than doing nothing besides growing a baby. But now? These things are too important to leave them up to me to screw up. 

Isabelle

Charlotte— [Pause.] Never mind. 

Charlotte

I’m—I’m sorry.

Isabelle

No, I am. I was about to blabber on about that point from before, concerning pity, but twisting it into a mighty lesson about self-pity when I should be focusing on self-care instead. I need to learn a lesson or two of my own about not always being a righteous voice of authority. It’s not good for me! I don’t know everything, nor should I be expected to. I gotta remind myself that I’m capable of being wrong sometimes, including when it’s time to push people into action and when it’s time to just take a break. [Pause.] Here, take this. 

[“Star Wagon” theme plays.]

Charlotte

Star Trek DVDs? 

Isabelle

The Next Generation. My favorite series. The truth is, it has a… not-so-great beginning. It took time for the actors and writers to find their footing. There aren’t a lot of stakes. But part of the appeal is how the show evolves and how you watch the camaraderie form among the crew. Yes, the actors seem like they barely know who they are at first. The characters are too isolated and barely interact. But then you watch them slowly settle into who they are, who they all really are. And they learn from each other. They sit, talk, grieve, drink, imagine, play poker. They become friends. They still try to figure things out, but they do it together. And it deepens into something… real and warm and lovely. 

Charlotte[reading]

“Encounter at Farpoint.” 

Isabelle

That’s the first episode. The pilot. 

Charlotte

What’s it about?

[Pause.]

Isabelle

It’s about a man who tries to control this city. Except the city isn’t really his to control. The city is alive. 

Charlotte

Huh.

Isabelle

Also, it’s about the history of humanity being put on trial.

Charlotte

Wow. Well. Thank you for these. I, uhh— 

Isabelle

I didn’t just come to give them to you. Or to talk you into the council, or to lecture you, or any of the above. I came to ask you—would you like to watch these with me sometime? It’s been a while since I’ve seen them and… I think…I think I like all these episodes a little better each time I revisit them. Especially with someone new. 

Charlotte

Even the early not-so-great episodes? 

Isabelle

Without those, the rest don’t feel as special. 

Charlotte

I’d love to watch Star Trek with you. How about tomorrow night?

Isabelle

I’ll bring the snacks. I’m looking forward to it.

Charlotte

So am I. Isabelle? 

Isabelle

Yes. 

Charlotte

Thank you. I really need this. 

Isabelle

I know you do. And in case you hadn’t guessed by now, so do I. 

[Music ends. Piano music replays over credits.]

CREDITS

Greater Boston is created by Alexander Danner and Jeff Van Dreason, with help from T.H. Ponders, Bob Raymonda, and Jordan Stillman. Recording and technical assistance from Marck Harmon.

This mini-episode was written and sound designed by Jeff Van Dreason.

Dialogue editing by Bob Raymonda.

CAST

This episode featured:

• Jessica Washington as Isabelle Powell (she/her)
• and Summer Unsinn as Charlotte Linzer-Coolidge (she/her)

MUSIC

• “Charlie on the MTA” by Dirk Tiede and Emily Petersen
• “Greater Boston Star Wagon Theme” by Eli Mcilveen

SUPPORT

You can support Greater Boston on Patreon at patreon.com/greaterboston

CONTENT NOTES

• Bonding
• Healing
• Star Trek references
• A summation of this entire series with the description of a not-great Star Trek series pilot

A ThirdSightMedia Production

COOKIE

Alexander Danner
Uhh, you missed our live show where we discussed the Lizard Babies episode of Voyager.

Mike Linden
I know I did! There are few episodes of Voyager that are better than the Lizard Baby episode.

Alexander
“Better” is a word!

Mike
I think there should be an alternate universe where those lizard babies actually have their own ship. [As Marlo] Did ya know that if you watched the “Encounter of Farpoint” episode backwards? It lines up perfectly with… The Wizard of Oz, lets say. I don’t know?

[Laughter.]

I wasn’t sure where I was going with that one.

Alexander
I wasn’t sure what… what are you lining up there, exactly? You’re lining up one movie with another.

Mike
But backwards!

Alexander
Backwards!

[Laughter.]

Mike
It all makes SENSE!