SCENE 1: MORGAN’S APARTMENT

[Background noise of various baking sounds. Spoon scraping the bowl, tins being shuffled, ingredients being moved around. Phone buzzes.]

MORGAN: Hello?

GRACE: (on the phone) Morgan? It’s Grace. I think I found something.

MORGAN: About Evie?

GRACE: Yeah. I took another look through her maps history and focused on the bars and clubs we skipped. All of them have event calendars on their websites. I matched those events up with the dates Evie visited them, in case there was a pattern. That person from last night, the tarot reader, her name's Maya, and she’s a DJ.

MORGAN: I don’t follow.

GRACE: Do you have Instagram? I’ll send you the post.

MORGAN: I don’t have social media. I work with computers. It sort of put me off the whole thing.

GRACE: Never mind. Maya played at a bunch of the events I assume Evie went to. Maya even has a couple photos with Evie on her Instagram.

MORGAN: Do you think they’re friends?

GRACE: Maybe, but Evie never mentioned anyone named Maya. Does the name sound familiar to you?

MORGAN: No, but Evie's hidden friends from me before. I still don't get it, though. If Maya is Evie's friend, why was she so defensive last night? Why lie to us?

[Oven beeps]

GRACE: What are you doing?

MORGAN: Baking. It helps me think.

GRACE: Can I come over after class? I think this is the best lead we have.

[Pause]

MORGAN: Sure, I’ll text you my address. Just let me know when you’re heading over.

[Incidental music, time passes. Apartment door closes. Footsteps as Grace enters.]

GRACE: What did you make? I can smell it from the hallway. It’s delicious.

MORGAN: Tres leches cake. Do you want some?

GRACE: Please.

[Fork clinks against plate. Grace eats as she talks.]

GRACE: This is fantastic.

MORGAN: There’s a bakery on the corner that makes the best tres leches I’ve ever had. I’m still trying to reverse engineer it.

GRACE: Wild. I can barely make coffee.

MORGAN: I didn’t know you were in school.

GRACE: You didn’t know me at all before yesterday.

MORGAN: Where do you go?

GRACE: Queens College. I’m getting my Master’s in library science. I want to be a library archivist.

MORGAN: (chuckles) Like National Treasure?

[Grace laughs.]

GRACE: I wish. I'd love to work at The National Archives, but I'm not impressive enough, yet.

MORGAN: Are old documents that interesting to you?

GRACE: I prefer photographs, actually. Do you know how massive this city's archive of photographs is? Between all three library systems, it's in the millions.

MORGAN: Woah. I had no idea. I figured they saved pictures of the mayor and the newspapers archived their photos, but that was kind of it.

GRACE: They do, but that's just a small piece of the photo archives. There are thousands and thousands of old photos of Broadway shows and city architecture and commuters on the subway. We have tons from the 1910s and 20s of Vaudeville shows and Coney Island street performers. At the Schwartzman building, in Midtown, there's a whole collection just of people smoking! Isn’t that fascinating? Ah, you can learn so much about someone by how they hold a cigarette.

MORGAN: I see why you’re good at Instagram.

GRACE: Please. Didn’t you say you worked with computers? It’s super easy to find someone on Instagram.

MORGAN: Exactly why I don’t use it.

GRACE: Right, back on topic. Here’s Maya's instagram.

[A few phone typing sounds.]

MORGAN: (reading aloud) Maya, she/her, DJ, electronic artist, DM for tarot readings/bookings. “If I can't dance, I don't want to be part of your revolution."

[Short pause.]

MORGAN: She gets booked a lot. Are all these posts from the last two months?

GRACE: Yeah, and when I went looking for patterns in the set lists, at first I couldn't find anything. It took going back a while, but by mid last year, I noticed that she used to DJ parties with a lot of the same people.

MORGAN: But not anymore?

GRACE: Doesn't look like it.

MORGAN: What are they doing now? Do they still DJ?

GRACE: A few. Some moved to different cities, and some just stopped posting. Do you recognize any of these people? Did Evie know any of them?

MORGAN: I don't, but I really don't know most of Evie's friends.

GRACE: What I do know for sure, is that Evie went to these shows. I found a lot of overlap between events she as at and places were Maya performs. Plus, there's this. This is the page for one of those clubs. Look at this photo. It’s from a few weeks ago. There, way in the back. She’s standing behind that table.

MORGAN: That is her. She’s talking to Maya.

GRACE: This party they're at, Chromatic, happens every month. The last one was on June 23rd. Like I said, a lot of Maya's other friends aren't really around anymore, but there's one exception. This guy, standing on the other side of Evie, has known Maya for years. They have a ton of photos together. His name's Noel.

MORGAN: Is any of this on Evie’s Instagram?

GRACE: Evie doesn't post on Instagram. I figured she got that from you. But anyway, there's nothing. No posts or stories since she disappeared.

MORGAN: What’s on the table in front of Evie and Noel? I can’t tell.

GRACE: Hmm, neither can I. Maybe merch?

MORGAN: Do DJs sell merch?

GRACE: Maybe?

MORGAN: When is Maya playing next?

GRACE: One sec… Friday! In… Bushwick.

MORGAN: Let’s get tickets.

GRACE: Both of us? Is that a good idea? What if we stick out?

MORGAN: I thought you went to one of these before.

GRACE: No way.

MORGAN: You found all of this so quickly, I figured you must be familiar with it.

GRACE: Yeah, no. It's part of my job to be good at finding things. I don't really go out. I'm not good at it. I don't know what you're supposed to do.

MORGAN: Neither do I, but this is the first real lead we have. Grace, I think, at this point, we have to make a call about how seriously we're taking this. If you really believe Evie's in danger, then we should go, even if we'll probably hate it. But if not going to the club is more important than figuring out what Maya and Noel know about Evie, what are we even doing here?

GRACE: I’ve been serious this whole time.

MORGAN: Then both of us should go, even if it makes us stand out. With two of us, we can cover more ground. Yesterday, you called me out of nowhere. A total stranger. This can't be scarier than that.

GRACE: For you, maybe.

MORGAN: Yeah, I straight up wouldn't have done it.

GRACE: Okay. Alright. Maybe this would be easier with someone else.

MORGAN: Things usually are.

SCENE 2 - THE CLUB

[Road noise and ambient conversation on the sidewalk outside the club. Footsteps.]

MORGAN: Grace! Sorry I’m late. The J train was a mess.

GRACE: It’s alright. You’re here now. Probably best we don’t walk in right as the party starts.

MORGAN: Love the headphones. Great choice.

GRACE: Thanks. I scoured everyone’s Instagram looking for ideas. Figured pink headphones, cooler than earplugs.

MORGAN: Oh, I probably should've brought those, huh?

GRACE: I brought extras.

MORGAN: Thanks. I kind of went for boring. Hopefully it’ll help me blend in. Ready?

GRACE: As ready as I'll be.

[They head inside. Club music starts to bleed through the walls. Footsteps. They ascend some stairs, talking quiet enough that no one can overhear.]

GRACE: So, Maya probably won’t talk to us, but maybe one of Evie’s other friends will. I took another look through Evie's page and noted which people are both recently and often in her photos. Hopefully some of them are here.

MORGAN: Okay. My plan is to just start talking to anyone who'll talk to me, I guess.

TICKET GUY: Tickets?

GRACE: Here.

TICKET GUY: You’re good. Next.

[They enter the club. Electronic music jumps in volume, uptempo and immersive, like they’re wrapped up in it. Crowd noise increases. Grace and Morgan talk loudly over the music.]

GRACE: There’s so many people here.

MORGAN: I can barely see. Everything’s just pink, blue, and red.

GRACE: Hey look! That’s Maya DJing.

MORGAN: Good. It means she's busy. I don't think she'd like that we're here.

GRACE: Yeah. I’m going to see if there’s another one of those tables we saw Evie standing behind.

MORGAN: I’ll head to the bar. It’ll be easier to talk over there.

GRACE: Meet back here in an hour? If I don’t see you sooner.

MORGAN: Done. Good luck.

GRACE: Table… table… (a bit too cheerily) Hi!

NOEL: (matching her level) Hi! Need anything?

GRACE: Sorry, I’m a bit… new. What is all this stuff?

NOEL: This is a harm reduction table! We have Naloxone, fentanyl test strips, and some basic first aid stuff. Take a look.

GRACE: What are these cards for? (reading) “Protect Your Hearing”; “What is Ketamine?”; “Trip Safe: LSD and Magic Mushrooms”

NOEL: Do you like them? I designed them myself.

GRACE: Yeah, they look awesome.

NOEL: I mean, folks are going to take the drugs anyway, right?

GRACE: Uh, right! I’m Grace.

NOEL: Noel. Nice to meet you.

GRACE: You too. Could you help me with something? I’m looking for a friend, and I know she comes here a lot. She looks like this. Have you seen her?

NOEL: How do you know her?

GRACE: We work together at a coffee shop. [pause] Midnight Coffee, in Bed-Stuy? She’s worked there for like, year and a half, more maybe? [another pause] You didn't know that, did you? You thought she worked in an art store.

[Crowd chatter increases as we switch to Morgan at the bar.]

BARTENDER: What can I get you?

MORGAN: Uh. Gin and tonic. But before you do that, have you seen this woman? She’s my sister. She’s supposed to be here tonight.

BARTENDER: She looks kind of familiar, but I don’t think I served her tonight.

MORGAN: Okay, thanks.

MORGAN: Hi, excuse me.

CLUB PATRON 1: Hey man, how you doing?

MORGAN: Good, good. Sorry to bother you, but I was wondering if either of you have seen my sister. She looks like this. She comes to a lot of these parties. She has my keys. I’m just trying to find her.

CLUB PATRON 1: I don’t recognize her, sorry.

CLUB PATRON 2: Didn't she give out water bottles at Paige’s party last month? She must’ve had, like, cases of them. I had no idea how she was keeping all of them cold.

CLUB PATRON 1: Maybe?

CLUB PATRON 2: I only remember because, by the time we got there, I was so crossed that water was like the best thing I ever tasted. She must've gone to Costco or something. She never ran out.

CLUB PATRON 1: Oh yeah! [laughs] Dude, you were so messed up.

MORGAN: Have either of you seen her here tonight?

CLUB PATRON 1: Nah.

CLUB PATRON 2: I don’t think so.

MORGAN: Right, thank you.

[Music volume increases. Back to Grace and Noel.]

NOEL: Why are you looking for Evie here?

GRACE: She said she’d meet me here.

NOEL: No, she didn’t. If she was coming tonight, I'd know.

GRACE: Okay, fine. She's missed every shift for the last two weeks. I'm worried about her.

NOEL: She might just be busy.

GRACE She won't return any of my calls or texts. Is she speaking to you? I don't need to know where she is or what she's doing. I just want to know that she's okay.

NOEL: If she won't talk to you, then it's not my place to tell you that.

[Crowd noise increases. Back to Morgan.]

MORGAN: Do you know her?

CLUB PATRON 3: Uh, yeah! She sometimes works the ticket table.

MORGAN: When was the last time you saw her?

CLUB PATRON 3: At Club J two, three weeks ago, I think? I needed a tampon. She totally saved me.

MORGAN: Do you know if any of her friends are here? She has my spare keys.

CLUB PATRON 3: You could try Maya when she's done with her set. She knows everybody. Oh, actually, I think the two of them showed up at the Lazy Sundaes together.

MORGAN: Thanks.

[Music increases. Back to Grace and Noel.]

GRACE: Listen, I'm here with her brother. He can vouch for me. It's like a wellness check, we don't care about what-

NOEL: Hold on, her what?

GRACE: Her brother? Morgan?

NOEL: I really think you should leave.

GRACE: Please. We’re both really worried. If you know anything-

NOEL: Turn around.

[Pause.]

GRACE: Is Maya calling security?

NOEL: I think you should leave before they kick you out.

GRACE What, you thought I was shady? And this isn't?

NOEL: I’m sorry.

[Song finishes. The crowd applauds. New song starts.]

GRACE: Hey Morgan! Morgan!

MORGAN: -whatever I did, just tell me what the problem is.

SECURITY GUARD: My problem is you can't be here anymore.

MORGAN: I paid for a ticket. I’m- I’m not bothering anyone-

SECURITY GUARD: You either walk out of here, or I walk you out, and you don't want me to walk you out.

GRACE: Let’s just go.

MORGAN: This is ridiculous-

GRACE: It’s not worth it. Sorry, we’re leaving. We’ll talk about this outside. Please, I don't want to cause a scene.

MORGAN: Fine. Okay.

SCENE 3 - BODEGA

[Door slams. Road noise resumes. They walk down the street.]

MORGAN: What was that?

GRACE: Maya saw us from the stage.

MORGAN: But we weren’t doing anything wrong!

GRACE: I got the same reaction when I talked to Noel. He was so friendly, and then the moment I brought up Evie, he shut up. Do you want a sandwich? I’m starving.

MORGAN: Sure.

[Shop bell dings. They walk inside.]

MORGAN: These are supposed to be her friends, right? This isn't how friends act. If someone told me one of my friends vanished, I'd want to know everything. I wouldn't be slamming doors in their face.

GRACE: Maybe we were wrong.

MORGAN: Hey, could I get a chopped cheese on a roll, no mayo no tomato, and…

GRACE: Uh, grilled chicken sandwich with: peppers, onions, and honey mustard on a roll. Thanks.

[Flattop grill sizzles. Morgan and Grace walk to a different part of the store.]

GRACE: Noel didn't even know that Evie worked at Midnight Coffee, and when I mentioned you, he had no idea who you were.

MORGAN: Maybe... but Evie's always kept parts of her life secret from me. It wouldn't surprise me if she did that to everyone.

[Morgan opens the refrigerated case.]

MORGAN: What kind of bodega doesn’t have root beer?

[He closes the case.]

GRACE: We could try a different angle. Maybe talk to her coworkers at the art store, comb through her laptop again. Maybe it's linked to her texts-

[Bodega doorbell rings again. Rapid footsteps.]

NOEL: (a bit out of breath) Good, you’re here.

GRACE: Noel?

NOEL: I was worried you already got on the train.

MORGAN: What do you want?

NOEL: To help. I don’t think you’re cops.

MORGAN: We never said we were cops.

NOEL: Since when do cops ever say they’re cops? That's how you came off. You clearly only showed up tonight to question people about Evie. Why would anyone trust you? People aren’t going to talk to you long enough to figure out if they’re wrong.

MORGAN: I thought you wanted to help.

NOEL: Sorry. All I'm saying is, if a stranger started interrogating you about one of your friends, you'd be suspicious too. I don't blame Maya for being cautious.

GRACE: Could you tell Maya that we all want the same thing here? For Evie to be okay?

NOEL: We don’t all want the same thing here. Trust me. But I think your hearts are in the right place. Do you want a soda?

GRACE: I’m good.

MORGAN: Do you see a root beer in there? I’d die for a root beer.

[Noel opens the refrigerated case.]

NOEL: What kind you like? Like brand, type, do you want a diet one? A fancy one?

MORGAN: Uh, I like the ones in the glass bottles. With sugar, like real sugar.

[A few bottles clink. Light static sound.]

NOEL: Dark brown glass, metal cap, ice cold. Yeah... there should be one back here. Found it.

[Fridge door closes.]

GRACE: How do we get people to trust us?

NOEL: For one thing, you could chill out a little. And maybe stop using a photo of Evie that looks like it’s ready for her memorial service. Don’t you have any photos of you guys with her? That would actually prove you're both her friends.

[Slight hiss as Morgan opens his soda.]

NOEL: Look, Maya isn’t going to talk to you. Leave her alone. She has a lot of other stuff going on that's none of your business.

MORGAN: It is my business. We're talking about my sister.

NOEL: Sure, yeah, no. Doesn't work that way.

GRACE: What are we supposed to do? Go home and pretend everything’s fine? You can’t seriously expect us to do that. Would you do that?

NOEL: No, but you stand out too much here, and you won't get less obvious. These parties are the wrong place to look.

[He sighs.]

NOEL: There’s a group that serves food every Sunday in Maria Hernandez park, around 3pm. Try them.

BODEGA GUY: Chopped cheese and grilled chicken!

NOEL: I have to get back. Good luck. Please leave us alone.

[Door chimes. He exits.]

MORGAN: I don’t like that.

GRACE: At least he was helpful.

MORGAN: I don’t trust him.

GRACE: I don’t think we have a choice.

MORGAN: I know. That makes it worse.

GRACE: Morgan... I think you should go home. You look exhausted.

MORGAN: No, I'm fine-

GRACE: You're not helpful like this. Let me go to the park without you. Go take a nap. Read a book or something.

MORGAN: Are you sure? I think by Sunday-

GRACE: No way. Besides, one of us got Maya's attention, and I don’t think it was me. Maybe I’ll have more luck without you.

SCENE 4 - MORGAN'S APARTMENT

[Doorbell rings. Footsteps.]

MORGAN: Coming!

[He opens the front door.]

HIRSCH: Morgan Rothman?

MORGAN: …yeah.

HIRSCH: I’m Detective Hirsch. How’s your night going?

MORGAN: Fine.

HIRSCH: I hope I’m not interrupting.

MORGAN: You’re fine.

HIRSCH: Regardless, I’m sorry for the late hour, but I wanted to make sure you were at home. I’m following up on a missing persons report.

MORGAN: I didn’t file any report.

HIRSCH: I didn’t said you did, Morgan. Nevertheless, a few days ago, someone filed a missing persons report for a…

[He flips through his notepad.]

HIRSCH: Evelyn Rothman. That’s your sister, isn’t it?

MORGAN: Yeah, she is. Detective, I think this is all a little premature.

HIRSCH: Really? What makes you say that?

MORGAN: Whoever filed this report doesn’t really know Evie. She takes little impromptu trips all the time. She'll be back within the week, acting like nothing happened.

HIRSCH: So you haven't heard from her in a few weeks?

MORGAN: Two weeks.

HIRSCH: Well, that sure sounds like someone who's missing.

MORGAN: Like I said, this is normal for her.

HIRSCH: Doesn't that worry you? Or your parents?

MORGAN: No. She's an adult, and she values her privacy. She has a right to disappear.

HIRSCH: [chuckles] Well, philosophy really isn't my business. I'll tell you what is, though. I spoke to Evelyn's manager at Midnight Coffee, and her manager at, uh, Arts and Craftsman. Both of them told me that she hasn't shown up for work since the first week of July. Now, my guess is that I've worked more missing persons cases than you. In my experience, if Evelyn isn't missing, then she's doing an awful lot of work to appear missing.

MORGAN: My guess is that I know Evie better than you do.

[A door down the hallway opens.]

MORGAN: Hi, Mrs. Garcia.

MRS. GARCIA: Hello, Morgan. Who's your friend?

MORGAN: Another person looking for Evie.

MRS. GARCIA: Is she well?

MORGAN: As well as she usually is.

MRS. GARCIA: Well, young man, I wouldn't worry too much. She'll find you.

HIRSCH: (under his breath) I hope so.

[Footsteps fade out.]

HIRSCH: Morgan, I’d love it if your sister came back in a few days, perfectly fine and healthy. My priority is that she’s safe. But, for now, let’s just say she is missing. Maybe she even needs help. Could you answer a few questions for me?

MORGAN: I’ll do my best.

[Pen click.]

HIRSCH: When did you first notice her missing?

MORGAN: This latest time, about a week ago.

HIRSCH: Mhm, how’d you find out?

MORGAN: Someone called me and asked if she was coming into work.

HIRSCH: Evelyn doesn't live here. Why would they call you?

MORGAN: I don't know.

HIRSCH: And this didn't worry you?

MORGAN: No.

HIRSCH: Since you found this out, have you contacted any of her friends?

MORGAN: No.

HIRSCH: Her coworkers, managers, or professors at… Brooklyn College?

MORGAN: No.

HIRSCH: How about your parents?

MORGAN: No. I haven’t contacted anyone.

HIRSCH: Including the police.

MORGAN: Yes. Who filed this report, anyway?

HIRSCH: Oh, I’m afraid I can’t tell you that.

MORGAN: Of course… is that everything, Detective?

HIRSCH: Yes, for you, for now. Though, I was hoping you could give me the names of some of Evelyn’s friends. We’d like to interview them, see if we can nail down the last time someone saw her.

MORGAN: I can't help you there, officer. Evie didn’t tell me much about her personal life.

HIRSCH: Interesting. Are you two close, Morgan?

MORGAN: Yes. We're family.

HIRSCH: You just seem very in the dark about her life. Why is that?

MORGAN: Is this relevant to your case, officer?

HIRSCH: You tell me.

MORGAN: It isn't.

HIRSCH: If you say so. Take my card. If you think of anything else, please give me a call. With missing persons cases, every hour matters.

MORGAN: Aren’t cops supposed to have partners, Detective?

HIRSCH: (small chuckle) It’s late. He has a wife and family. I don’t.

MORGAN: Right… Have a good night.

[Footsteps fade out as he exits. Morgan closes the door.]

MORGAN: Evie, what is it now?

[Outro music starts.]

REMY: The Artisan Who Made Me is written and produced by Remy Davison, and directed by Crystal-Marie Alberson and Sydney Roslin. This episode featured Yaya Koas as Morgan, Ria Meer as Grace, Alexander Michael Reeves as Noel, and Nick Jordan as Detective Hirsch. This episode contains use of “Orobouros” by CMD (Command) Jazmine, courtesy of Molten Heart. Additional music by Jordan Speranzo, and audio production by Raphael Davison. For more information, transcripts, and to support our show, visit bottledstarproductions.com. “The Artisan Who Made Me” is sponsored, in part, by the Greater New York Arts Development Fund of the New York City Department of Cultural Affairs, administered by the Brooklyn Arts Council.