Electra’s dictionary film noir; shifting props between the scenes (jm chronicles)

it is over breakfast coffee I ask,

“how much are you renting the house for? I will split it with you.”

“How can you do that?” he asks me

“I’m editing the newsletter for Johnny and Joanie now— you know, for the Jones Historical Society. That’s what they called me about the other day.”

“How much are they paying you?—what kind of newsletter?”

“I don’t know; I forget.... it’s for like email subscribers and their Facebook page—and IG too.... because —look, Jörn, I know it’s because of me we are here, I can’t have you foot the bill.”

He acknowledges this last remark by just his eyes as he seems distracted by something in his thoughts

So I say,

“also, I have always paid my own way.”

He’s thoughtful as if thinking about something else, and instead of answering me he says
“you didn’t explain that Hannah’s photo shoot is at the penthouse.”

“Oh, didn’t I?”

“No.”

“Oh....”

But now he says,
“You know, I had been thinking about taking time off from the orchestra before this came up, duva—as you are aware, the opera has consumed my mind .... and it ....I cannot work on it full time if I am rushing off to concerts every night.....” he says by way of explanation for me, “and most of my income comes from .... the government job,” then he changes the subject suddenly,

“You know she is living there,”

“Oh, I know.”

“Then you should know about my daughter’s notorious parties.”

I laugh,

“she is keeping Ilya busy so I think your daughter is in safe hands,” I say because I’m not worried. “The photo shoot was her idea and Ilya loves the idea because it’ll bring more patrons to visit so, it really is a good thing. You don’t have to play the heavy even though I know you like to. Hannah is a good girl.”

He laughs when I say this in a way that communicates how erroneous he believes what I said is

But then I remember what I’d been wanting to ask him

“So what did you talk about with the art director the other day —was that who he was?”

“In Montreal? Chants Libres.... yes....” he gets lost in thought but then says, “it’s given me some ideas.... I want to try video taping some performances there and and overdub it which reminds me; my equipment is supposed to be arriving today —oh, and just to warn you: we will be going over some music to prepare for some recording so it’s bound to be pretty loud because of these high ceilings but so is the concert hall in Montreal so ..... Duva.... I’d invite you to come with us to Montreal when we go there to perform it to record but ....you’ve misplaced your passport.”

“Oh.... yeah.... hmm.”

“You really have no idea where you left it?”

I shake my head,
“um—pretty sure it’s nowhere I can find....” but I can see he sees right through me

He lets out a frustrated sigh before finishing his coffee and then walks towards the piano but he mumbles,
“you know exactly where it is.”

His remark suddenly makes me aware of something I had not really been until now; how close he really does pay attention to everything. And keeps the poker face.


And I find myself thinking about that conversation when he said all that about the safe master.....

this means he has known a great deal more than he pretends and for longer than he says. So I wonder how much he already knew about me before we even met. Yet, he seems unconcerned when he allows these tidbits of himself to let slide. I know he does this with intention —to test my reactions? Should it bother me? Or should it bother me more that I don’t care?


I spend the day cleaning deciding to leave Jörn to his opera as he has been struggling with a musical arrangement all morning

my way to be  preparing for the parents, I guess. But actually, I like cleaning as I find it’s good therapy in a zen kind of way —and even better than meditation because when you are all done everything is clean.

By afternoon I realize things are quiet in the house and notice Jörn has been cleaning too as I see him through the window to outside and see him washing the car. The car that he refers to as ‘a company car’; a white XC40 Volvo he has been driving which we drove up here in
*****

It is later when I’m cutting the big blooms of hydrangea pompoms that grow everywhere.... when two trucks pull up.

One carrying two topiary trees and the other furniture ....and so I think: she’s designing from her tablet?