Manny and the Painting

Kurt and Richard have remained close enough to Manny so that they see as he slips into a strange trance state as he touches the painting of the woman in the yellow dress. His expression is confused, and his eyes unfocused. He starts to speak in a low, quiet voice, as if recounting a memory from long ago. His words are occasionally indistinct, but it is clear that they come from a powerful source. The manner of speach is odd, unlike Manny's normal delivery, words run together, or have strange breaks in the middle of pronouncing them. This is what Manny says.

"My greatest work was the portrait of the mayor. It was a commission, at long last, but they gave it to me to ruin me. So that I would become respectable, a mere painter rather than an artist, a copier not a creator. They wanted to take me into the establishment and churn me out, as it had churned out them. So i took their commission and gave them truth."

"There are a million colours between white and black without ever leaving grey. They said that the painting was just lines, drab lines of grey and black but of course they could not see. I gave the mayor his portrait as he was - an unimportant man , from an unimportant city. He wanted to be bold, in proud colours, like Caesar come again or some civic saint, but the man was nothing.

"He was grey man, part of the architecture, from a grey city, and was too pompous to see that there was something grand and beautiful in obscurity. I made him an archetype but he only wanted to be a cliche."

"Of course he didn't like it. The city refused to pay for it, and it was a long time before I received another commission again."

Seemingly having said his piece, Manny's eyes refocus and he stops speaking. There is a sudden silence as the other two realise how intently they have been listening. This silence is only broken by the sounds of Roland and Hal in conversation on the other side of the gallery.

Hal and Roland are talking at one end of the gallery. They are too far away to make out what the lion-tamer is saying in a hushed voice as he stares at the painting of the woman in the yellow dress, his back to the two men. But he seems to be saying a lot, his jawline moving almost constantly for a minute or two.

If they look closely, they are also able to make out that Richard and Kurt are paying close attention to whatever it is the man is saying. Looking down at the other group Roland turns to Hal and says quietly: "Uh oh. Looks like our lion tamer friend is having another episode." He calls down the gallery

"Hey fellas. Everthing ok over there?"

“An interest in books?” Hal is about to launch into a convoluted monologue regarding his exploits as an accomplished author but is cut off when Roland calls over to the rest of the group. Hal frowns, annoyed and deflated, but he decides to let it pass.

“You know,’” says Hal quietly. “I’m beginning to think our lion tamer friend may be mad. OF course I’m no expert, but I’m wondering if there’s perhaps some information regarding those prints in our host’s library. Perhaps if we can uncover a mundane origin for them…”

Hal looks at Roland expectantly. Keen to distance himself from the clearly mad lion tamer and lose himself in something as routine and everyday as browsing a library, but not comfortable enough with his surroundings to wander off alone.


Richard will stay by Manny until a few minutes after his mumblings to make sure he's ok. After about ten minutes, he'll calmly suggest to Manny that we go to the little study, where we can sit down and have a brandy. If Manny agrees, then that's where they'll go to relax a little and ease the nerves.


During this time, and after a little small talk:

"So, Manny, what exactly happened in the gallery? You seemed as if caught in a trance by that painting of the woman, are you aware of what you were doing?"

Kurt follows Richard and Manny to the drawing room and avaisl himself of another brandy. He is interested in hearing Manny's account of his "episode".

Manny has that terrible sinking feeling that he has had before. He knows the others think him mad, catching his blood-stained reflection in the window glass only confirms his suspicions that he looks like a lunatic. Manny isn't sure he would believe himself right now. He mutters about something otherworldly going on.