Work Text:
[CLICK]
[FOOTSTEPS]
[TAPE CRACKLES]
MICHAEL SHELLEY
[MUFFLED] —t’s on?
MICHAEL SHELLEY
I—I think its on, okay. Uh, hi, tape. I’m making this to, uh, document…me? Or…wherever--whatever?--this place is. I’m Michael Shelley. I was sent here by The Head Archivist, G—Gertrude. Robinson. Gertrude Robinson. We were in Russia, I think. Sannikov Land? There was a door. Bright yellow, peeling at the edges, its frame was attached to the air.
[SMALL LAUGH]
MICHAEL SHELLEY
I—It was odd, but where I am now it’s—it’s so much worse. It keeps shifting, or maybe I am. I’m following this map. The map doesn’t make sense but the hallways don’t either, so it’s easy to follow. Why is there a tape here aga— Oh! Right, I’m making this as a way to document myself.
[STATIC GETS SLIGHTLY LOUDER]
MICHAEL SHELLEY
These hallways they—they’re a bit disorientating, to say the least. I can’t…remember a lot. I’m Michael Shelley, and I was sent here by The Archivist. Her name is Gertrude…Robinson. My name is Michael Shelley, I work for the Magnus institute, and my age is—
[STATIC GROWS LOUDER]
[CLATTER AS TAPE IS DROPPED]
[MICHAEL SHELLEY HISSES IN PAIN]
MICHAEL SHELLEY
Oh—I…let me just...
[SMALL CLICK AS TAPE IS PICKED UP]
MICHAEL SHELLEY
Sorry, I don’t— I’m not sure what just happened. It’s hard to remember things, here. I— I’m not sure it wants me to. I am Michael Shelley, and I work for the Archivist. I came here through Sannikov Land, Russia. I am Michael Shelley.
[SMALL PAUSE IN FOOTSTEPS AS MICHAEL SHELLEY STUMBLES.]
MICHAEL SHELLEY
I am Michael Shelley, I work for— I work for… The Archives. I like jumpers, and my job is to sort through statements. My name is Michael Shelley. My name is Michael. I am holding a map. Humans have— Humans have two hands. I am Michael Shelley, I have two hands, and two eyes, and two legs, and—
[STUMBLE]
[MICHAEL SHELLEY HISSES IN PAIN]
[HE CHUCKLES, HYSTERICALLY]
MICHAEL SHELLEY
This is—is insane. Me, Michael Shelley, who has two hands and works at a place that studies—studies something, trying to play the hero. No, take the academic job. It pays more than the cornerstone. Stupid Michael, stupi—
[SIGH]
MICHAEL SHELLEY
I am Michael Shelley, and I came into this place from—Oh, darn it—it started with an S? Sandy Land? No, that’s not it…On the tip of my tongue. I am Michael Shelley, and I was sent here by—by my boss? I came to the hallways from something-beginning-with-S Land. I am Michael—
[PAUSE]
MICHAEL SHELLEY
Michael S. Michael S—S something. Sannikov? Michael Sannikov? No, that's not right. I just can’t—I am Michael S., and I came here from something-S Land. It was snowy there. I work for—for The Magnus Institute? Yeah! Yeah, The Magnus Institute.
MICHAEL
I am Michael, and I have—three hands? How many hands are humans meant to have? I can’t remember. My mind's all muddles up…Oh! The Archivist had two hands, that must be the normal amount!
[MICHAEL IS SILENT]
MICHAEL
I don’t have the normal amount of hands.
[FOOTSTEPS SLOW TO A STOP]
[FOOTSTEPS START AGAIN, QUICKER]
MICHAEL SHELLEY
No that’s—that's not important right now, Michael. The Archivist said it might be a little confusing, so I need to keep going. I need to keep walking. Walking helps. Talking helps.
MICHAEL SHELLEY
I am Michael, I have a home, somewhere. I’m doing this for my boss—one of them? I have multiple bosses, I think. The Archivist and—and another one. The one at the top. I am Michael, I am Michael, I am—
[STATIC RISES CONSIDERABLY, THERE IS A LOUD, GROANING CREAK]
THE DISTORTION
Well, Hello.
[TAPE CLICKS OFF]