Acts of Violet(23)

NORIKO TOMLIN: You’re kinda downplaying the tragedy of this eight percent statistic. There’s no other creative industry where women are outnumbered by men to such an appalling degree. And it’s easy to see why: the lack of mentorship and resources for girls and women, the history of ingrained misogyny …

JANET LURIE: If we’re going to take the historical route, it’s also worth mentioning witchcraft hysteria. We’re going back hundreds of years, to be sure, but considering all the women accused, persecuted, and even executed for being witches, I could see, even in more contemporary times, a woman performing stage magic getting muddled with her performing actual sorcery.

RON VEST: Or it could be that men are just better at magic than women.

[Sounds of angry voices followed by shattering glass]

CAMERON FRANK [STUDIO]: This seemed like a good time to take a break and let tempers cool. Once the mess was tidied up, we resumed the final part of our discussion.

CAMERON FRANK: I appreciate everyone bringing their knowledge, experience, and impassioned opinions to this roundtable. I’d like to close out with a lightning round of sorts. I’ll throw out a question for each of you to answer briefly.

First question: Who do you think wrote the Violet Is a Fraud takedown? Janet, let’s start with you.

JANET LURIE: It’s mere conjecture, but the amount of intimate information conveyed leads to Sasha Dwyer being the most likely author.

NORIKO TOMLIN: Yep, I think it was Sasha, too. Or maybe Violet’s ex-husband, Benjamin.

VIVA VOX: See, I get a professional bitterness vibe outta the whole thing. My money’s on Ace Morgan.

RON VEST: Don’t know, don’t care. Next question.

CAMERON FRANK: Do you think Violet possessed any otherworldly powers? Telekinesis, levitation, any of it? Noriko, this time let’s begin with you.

NORIKO TOMLIN: I flip-flop on this one. I want to believe Violet really was magic. But in the literal special-powers kind of way? I don’t know. Can I be a maybe?

VIVA VOX: There’s no way I could prove it, but I’ve been trying to replicate parts of her act religiously for seven years—I’ve worked with all kinds of experts and consultants and there are some effects that seem impossible to pull off without some … extra ability. So my answer is yes.

RON VEST: Get the fuck out of here.

JANET LURIE: I find the notion far-fetched, so no from me, too.

CAMERON FRANK: In one or two sentences, what do you see as Violet Volk’s ultimate legacy? Viva, you’re up.

VIVA VOX: Thanks to Violet, stage magic will continue to undergo an edgy and female-led revolution, while also gaining more credibility as a legitimate art form.

RON VEST: And less talented chicks will get picked over men in the name of feminism. Good times.

JANET LURIE: I believe Violet will continue to inspire people—particularly women and girls—to create delusional and unattainable ideas of what their lives should look like. Eventually most will be disappointed by the harsh reality that being a rich, glamorous, eternally adored celebrity is out of their reach.

NORIKO TOMLIN: Violet showed the world you can start out as a nobody with nothing, and become somebody special, by working hard, dreaming hard, and believing in a world with no boundaries. She challenged us to find and create our own magic, and those of us who rise to that challenge will always be better for it.

CAMERON FRANK: Last question: What do you think happened to Violet and will we see her again?

RON VEST: If I had to guess? I don’t know what happened, but I think she pissed off the wrong people and ended up dead.

JANET LURIE: I don’t think she’s dead. There were some … unpleasant realities VV was about to face … and she was getting tired of her fame and notoriety. She had plenty of reasons to want to start a new life. Staging her disappearance would be the perfect way to do it. I don’t think we’ll see her again.

VIVA VOX: I agree with Janet on first part, but I do think we’ll see her again. Or, I don’t know, I want to believe we will.

NORIKO TOMLIN: I think the whole thing—all of it, even the five of us having this conversation—is part of her greatest illusion yet. She’s just not finished performing it.

We’ll see her again. There’s no question.




July 16, 1993

VV,

How’s NYC treating you? You sound good on your answering machine. And for the two seconds we get to hear your voice before you hang up on us. Maybe we could have a real conversation one of these days? It’s been a month. We’re not in high school anymore, so how about we act like grown-ups?

I get it, you’re angry. At your mom for getting sick. At your uncle for roping your dad into a bad business deal. At your dad for getting roped in. At Sasha and me for not moving to New York with you.

New York was the plan. But plans change.

You have no idea how much is on Sasha’s shoulders. I saw how you were around your mother, treating her like she has a bad cold instead of MS. You think some soup and positive thinking is going to make it all go away. This is serious. Regina can barely walk, barely work. Even with your dad’s help at home and my support, between the salon and everything else, Sasha is fucking overwhelmed.

The last thing she needs right now is your petty bullshit.

Here’s what’s gonna happen. You’re gonna get over yourself and call your sister (Monday mornings are less busy, and she’s back from her run by 9:00). You’re gonna apologize to her for being such a child, tell her how much you miss her, and invite her to visit you. You’ll show her a great time around the city, being the cool and fun Violet we know and love. I’ll send you a check so you can take her to a Broadway show, a nice restaurant, etc. You can pay me back when you book your first big magic gig.