by Shelly Call
Well, here's my second fanfiction! As usual, all the standard disclaimers apply. The characters and WENN do not belong to me. The only thing that does belong to me is the story itself and the Serafin character, although, I do have to give credit where credit is due! I borrowed the name Serafin from the 1949 MGM movie "The Pirate" which starred Gene Kelly and Judy Garland (some of you may be familiar with it : )) The character is in no other way meant to resemble the Serafin character in the movie or Gene Kelly, I just thought it was a cool name for a mesmerist (which, of course, was one of Gene Kelly's acts in the movie), so it's just a little tip of the hat to him.
I got my information about hypnotism from the psychology book I used in college and "The Truth About Hypnotism" by Nicholas Fabian as well as an essay published by Merlin Enterprises. I'm of course, not an expert in the field, so I apologize for any inaccuracies, but this is for fun only, so don't try this at home! (Hehehehe!)
Also, there is an extremely obtuse reference to "The Wizard of Oz" in this part of the story-see if you can spot it. The first person who spots it wins (drumroll, please!) the second part of the story! (Yipee!) Just kidding!
Enjoy!
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"C'mon, Betty, it's just dinner! What could be more harmless?" Scott Sherwood trailed after Betty as she left the writer's room and headed briskly down the hallway.
"A boa constrictor that hasn't eaten in a month? A pleasure cruise through shark-infested waters aboard an inflatable raft? I can think of lots of things more harmless than dinner with you," Betty responded in a no-nonsense tone.
"This is no time to joke, Betty! Don't you think we should let sleeping dogs lie?" Scott demanded as they came to a stop outside the green room doors.
"Lie? As I recall, that's how this whole thing got started. Besides . . ." the rest of Betty's reply was lost as the front door to the station closed with a bang.
"Hilary, all I'm asking is dinner. We need to talk. How else are we ever going to get things back to the way they were?" Jeff asked in desperation as he followed closely upon Hilary's swiftly moving heels.
"The way things were? If you're referring to the time during which I was married to a two-timing tomcat who prowled around the back alleys of London until he found a catty slice of Czechoslovakian cheesecake to replace me with? No, I'm afraid I have no desire to get things back to where they were," Hilary answered with fierce indignation.
Jeff nearly growled. "It wasn't like that at all, Hilary, and you know it! If you would just-"
"Ah, good morning, Betty. Such a lovely day," Hilary purred as the two couples met outside the green room doors.
"Good morning, Hilary. It is a nice day, isn't it? I have your scripts for this morning here with me..." the two women headed into the green room, blithely forgetting the disgruntled men they were leaving behind.
Jeff, feet planted firmly in a wide stance, hands on his hips, heaved a soul-deep sigh. "Any luck, Sherwood?" he asked, casting a sideways glance at the man beside him.
Scott's gaze remained fixed on the window in the door. "None at all. You?"
"Nothing I do seems to change her mind. You know, sometimes I think we both must be crazy to keep forging ahead with so little encouragement," Jeff stared fixedly at Hilary's completely unaware form. "It's just that I know underneath all the hurt and hostility, she still loves me. I can't walk away from that. You aren't going to give up, are you?"
Scott finally looked at Jeff as a grin spread across his face. "What, a Sherwood give up? Never! She's never quite forgiven me for what I did. I can't blame her for that. But sooner or later she has to see that I've changed. There was a time when I was almost sure she cared about me, and I know that's still there. I just have to figure out how to bring it out again," Scott looked back into the room. "Maybe there's something we can do . . ."
"What do you mean?" Jeff asked as they both turned away from the door and headed for Studio A.
"Maybe we should try to work together, look for opportunities to help each other out. Two heads are better than one, you know," Scott observed with a gleam in his eye.
Jeff returned his grin. "Yeah, I see what you're saying. It's a deal." The bargain was sealed with a firm handshake before they entered the studio to begin the day's broadcast.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
"It says here he's performed before all the crowned heads of Europe. Imagine that! And now he's right here in Pittsburgh, PA," Maple exclaimed excitedly.
"And look, he's even performed for the president! What an honor that must have been, meeting all those foreign dignitaries," Eugenia gushed.
"And he's going straight to Hollywood after his appearances here to make a major motion picture. A real-life movie star, right here in our midst!" Gertie rhapsodized.
"Who are you talking about?" Hilary inquired as she came upon the group in the green room huddled around the newspaper. "He sounds as if he's almost the same caliber of performer as myself. Although that sort of star is almost impossible to find outside of Broadway, let alone in Pittsburgh."
Eugenia leaned forward in order to give her words the proper impact. "Serafin the Magnificent," she breathed.
"Serafin the what? What on earth is he?" Hilary demanded in bewilderment.
"He's your guest tonight on 'Magic Time', Hilary. Didn't you read your performance notes this week?" Betty asked with consternation as she came through the door.
"Oh, that? I suppose I inadvertently overlooked them. Do tell me all about my guest," Hilary invited graciously.
"Why do I even bother?" Betty muttered under her breath.
"You mean you've never heard of Serafin the Magnificent?" Maple asked in sheer disbelief.
"No, should I have? Perhaps he's beneath my notice," Hilary explained with a shrug. "What does he do?"
"He's only the world's foremost mesmerist. A stage hypnotist extraordinaire!" Gertie announced with a flourish.
"A stage hypnotist?" Hilary asked with a poorly-concealed sneer. "Betty, you must be going through a stage if you think I'm going to allow some quack to put me under his spell!"
"Hilary, by all accounts he's anything but a quack. Just look at this newspaper article. He's performed for some of the most distinguished people around the world. I'm sure you have nothing to fear," Betty reassured the fuming actress.
"Fear? The only thing I have to fear is what sort of ridiculous things he'll make me do while he has me in his mental clasp. Oh, if my colleagues from Broadway should hear of this, I'll be a laughingstock!" Hilary moaned.
"I wouldn't worry about that, Hilary, I'm sure they already consider you a laughingstock," Gertie observed wryly.
"Thank you, Gertie, that's such a comfort," Hilary replied with genteel sarcasm.
"Hilary, really, I'm sure you have nothing to worry about. From everything I've heard, Serafin is charming and debonair, a true gentleman. I'm sure he'll give you the respect you deserve. Now, I think lunch is over. Don't we all have a broadcast to do?" Betty asked pointedly as she turned to leave the room. The other ladies followed close behind her, except for Hilary, who lingered for a moment to skim the article about Serafin. With the resigned sigh of a martyr, she at last made her way into the studio.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
The man certainly knew how to make an entrance, Gertie thought as she gazed with near-adoration at the newcomer. He was tall, slender, with glossy black hair swept back from a broad forehead. His features were refined, his manner, elegant. Altogether, he was the most devastatingly attractive man Gertie had seen in quite some time and she was perfectly prepared to do his bidding even without benefit of hypnotism.
"Good evening, my dear lady. As you may have guessed, I am Serafin the Magnificent." As he spoke his name, he removed his opera cloak with a practiced flourish causing the rich, red satin lining of the cape to flash brightly. Underneath, he was garbed in an obviously expensively tailored tuxedo that fit him exquisitely. When Gertie only gaped in appreciative astonishment, Serafin, somewhat apologetically said, "I know, the cape is a bit disarming, isn't it? But it's really all part of the mystique and it helps put me in the correct frame of mind for a performance. I realize it's rather archaic in this day and age," he smiled warmly.
Gertie melted under his gaze. "Oh no, I think your cape is wonderful, Serafin," she said dreamily. She shook herself out of her haze. "Let me call Betty Roberts for you."
"Thank you, madame. You have been quite helpful." With a slight bow and a click of his heels, Serafin turned away to inspect the photographs on the wall, leaving Gertie to call Betty and sigh in wonderment over their debonair guest.
Betty and Scott hurried down the hallway, both eager to greet the famous hypnotist. Betty stopped short when she caught sight of him. He was older than she had anticipated, well into his forties, and she had rarely encountered anyone with such a distinguished and elegant air.
"Mr. Serafin? I'm Betty Roberts." She approached him, hand extended.
"Ah, Miss Roberts, enchante." Serafin bowed low over her hand, bestowing a kiss upon it as his heels clicked together smartly. "But, please, Miss Roberts, you must call me simply Serafin. I have no patience with mundane affectations like titles."
Betty smiled warmly, obviously delighted. "All right, Serafin. And please, call me Betty," she sent an amused glance to Scott, who, she was distressed to see, was frowning darkly. "This is Scott Sherwood, one of our actors."
"Mr. Sherwood, a pleasure." Scott was no sooner acknowledged than dismissed. Serafin turned immediately back to Betty. "I had not expected one so young to run a radio station all by herself. How do you manage it?"
"Oh, one day at a time. But I have lots of help," Betty explained.
"Hiya!" Maple suddenly appeared on the scene, clearly favorably impressed with the sight that greeted her eyes.
"This is Maple LaMarsh. She's one of our most talented actresses," Betty continued.
"I can certainly see why. Maple," he repeated his bow and kiss, his heels rapidly clicking together.
"Oh, Serafin, how very Bubonic of you," Maple said breathlessly.
Scott made a startled movement, unable to fathom Maple's choice of words.
"I think she means Teutonic," Betty hissed at him. Scott nodded, suddenly enlightened.
Serafin seemed utterly unfazed by Maple's speech and his attention was immediately distracted by the entrance (there was really no other word for it) of Hilary Booth. Indeed, he appeared completely arrested by her gaze.
"This is Hilary Booth. You'll be performing with her on 'Magic Time' tonight," Betty explained.
"But, of course! She could be no other. I would have recognized such a vision of loveliness anywhere." He repeated his usual gesture of greeting for an enchanted Hilary's benefit. "You see, I had the singular privilege of seeing Hilary in 'The Rivals'. No other can compare to her." He continued to clasp Hilary's hand fondly. Jeff, who had entered the lobby practically on her heels, glared icily at the debonair man.
"Jeff Singer, Ms. Booth's husband," Jeff stressed the last word and shoved his hand at Serafin so that the entertainer was forced to break his contact with Hilary.
"I might have guessed that someone as charming as Hilary would not be free," Serafin said by way of greeting.
"What can you mean? I'm free as a bird. Pay no attention to that man," Hilary leaned in closer to Serafin and spoke in a stage whisper. "He suffers from the most lamentable delusions."
"Hilary..." Jeff's voice suddenly sounded threatening.
"I think it's time we took this little party into the green room. We have sandwiches and coffee in there if anybody's hungry," Scott announced, hoping to avert disaster as per his new agreement with Jeff.
"That sounds delightful. Shall we, Hilary?" Serafin gallantly offered his arm.
With a coquettish giggle, Hilary accepted it and gaily led the procession into the green room.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
"You see, it's really all in the eyes, they way they connect with my subject, building a bridge between my mind and theirs." Serafin's eyes bored into Hilary's and she returned his gaze with rapt attention. His voice was soft, seductive, the sort of voice he would use to urge his subjects to greater and greater depths of sleep. "You look deeper and deeper, into the very bottom of their soul until nothing is hidden, all secrets are revealed," his voice trailed off to a whisper. Abruptly, he broke his visual contact with Hilary, causing her to deflate. "Of course, the voice is a main factor, too. The tone, the speed, the cadence. I use them all to gain the trust of the participant."
Serafin looked around at his captive audience in the green room. Sandwiches and coffee sat forgotten as the performer described his art. That the man had a certain magnetic attraction could not be denied. Even Jeff and Scott, who had each taken an instant dislike to Serafin, were drawn into the discussion.
"Also, one should never underestimate the importance of having the right subject. The ideal candidate for hypnotism is intelligent, but the most important factor is the ability to focus, to concentrate. I'm sure Hilary will prove ideal; her limitless talents as an actress are a guarantee of her ability to focus." Serafin bestowed his beaming gaze upon Hilary once more. She bloomed beneath his praise. Jeff glowered.
"Once you find the ideal subject, what sorts of things can you make them do?" Hilary inquired, wholly absorbed.
"Oh, any number of things," Serafin gestured expansively. "I might suggest the subject is standing naked outside in a blizzard and they immediately begin to demonstrate the mental and physical characteristics of being in such a situation. Or I might suggest that they are ravenously hungry and a splendid feast has just been laid out before them; they'll go through the motions of eating as if it were true. Anything is possible. Of course, radio involves a whole new dimension. The responses of the subject will have to much more vocal than usual, but I think I've tailored a program to meet these unique needs."
"So in a way, WENN is involved in a really ground breaking experiment for performance hypnotism. Very exciting," Scott observed with a grin.
"Yes, but that isn't the only thing exciting about hypnotism right now. What has made me so passionate about it for the last 25 years is it's power to unlock the secrets of the human mind. Did you know psychologists have been using it as therapy for their patients? A person who is hypnotized is able to recall events and feelings that they've consciously forgotten about for years. Repressed feelings, unacknowledged emotions, can be brought bursting forth into the consciousness so that the subject can move forward with their life and repair relationships which have been damaged in the past. It's remarkable to think that what I've done all my life for entertainment also has the power to change lives in the real world," Serafin's eyes gleamed with passion for his life's work. "But that's enough of lectures. Tell me all about WENN," he invited Hilary.
Scott's eyes were gleaming for another reason. "Are you thinking what I'm thinking?" he asked Jeff, a crafty light in his eyes.
"Sherwood, I think I'm reading your mind," Jeff replied, as an answering grin spread across his face.
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