Ninth Story Studios, James Story a voice. Welcome to the lift, get
ready to take a ride. Hello, I'm Daniel Foy Tech and I thank
you for joining us for a special episode of Victoria's Lyft. Today we're presenting
the final of five mini episodes for Christmas, called a Little Lyft for the
Holidays. Full sized episodes are coming, but until then, let's join Victoria
for today's tale. Pick a Card by Christopher Long, told by Mary Murphy
and Amber Luverlin Nay Collins. Thank you all of you for being a part
of Victoria's Christmas celebration. We'll be returning in the new year. There they
sit waiting to be shuffled into the right configuration to make someone believe they've just
witnessed the impossible. Every year I practice one of Larry's tricks for the girl
who comes to visit me. If there is such a thing as a year
here. My jail cell is tricky. It's full of forgeries. The door
which isn't my front door opens to reveal a corridor that doesn't belong there.
Carol, I was married to a man who pretended he could make objects appear
out of thin air. The scale's different. She's no magician. She's a
tightly wound spring of magic, a sorcerer with pigtails. She also happens to
be my tailor. She sits across from me, noticing the cards are still
in their box. No trick this year. There's no hiding my exhaustion from
her. They're getting louder next door. It's hard to focus. I can
always hear their voices taunting me, trying to draw me into that room,
except the door's been locked ever since I first arrived. According to Victoria,
that's down to me, not her. Of course, that was me once
the other side of the wall, Me and Larry, back when he was
refusing to accept help and I was struggling to hold on to what was left
of him on my darker days. They play out our last argument, the
words I'd said to push him into planning his final escape, not with a
hidden lock pick, but with the painkillers he'd palmed when I wasn't looking.
How would that I show you a trick? Instead, she presents me with
the banned deck. Pick a card, any card. Muscle memory kicks in.
Larry took me through so many tricks we'd be in a hotel room somewhere,
and he'd ask me if I was ready for the next one. Don't
show it to me. Turning my card over, I find she somehow turned
it into an envelope with my name on. That's Larry's handwriting. How did
you do that? Sorry, Carol, A magician never reveals their secrets.
Now go on open it. I do, as untold ever the good assistant.
Inside it is a Christmas card. I don't recognize the bright, cheerful
illustration. I don't understand that's the last Christmas card Lawrence sent you. Oh
it's not. I don't think I'll ever forget that card. Larry couldn't leave
the apartment by our lost Christmas together. That's why when he asked, I
had to go out and buy one for him. I got home to find
him sleeping, Or so I'd thought, until I saw the pills scattered over
the bit. It was always good at misdirection. Please, Carol, read
it just once. Victoria's eyes look as old and patient as the stars as
I skeptically skimmed down the shaky words. I take my breath away. I
read them again. I read them until my tears make it difficult to see.
When did he write this on the day he couldn't face putting you through
the pain any more. Only he hid the card too well. Once a
magician, always a magician. I suppose that's why you never found it.
That's why you didn't know. She rubs her hands together, places some on
mine. Now, are you ready for the clever bit? Close your eyes
and hold on to that card tightly. Try to remember Larry, remember your
happiest memories together. The card in my grip starts to shift. It becomes
smaller, colder as I remember Ross on stage, the laughter, the wonder,
the applause. Tedda a key to that pesky lock door you've never been
able to pick open. The little Sorcerer smiles and shrugs. It's not that
I didn't enjoy the tricks every year. You just look like you needed a
little help. Thank you, thank you so much. She gives me a
quick, tight hug, Happy Christmas, Carol, and with that she leaves
me alone. I keep Larry's lost message clutched tightly in my trembling hand,
feeling ready now to face whatever's waiting for me in that room, Feeling ready
to go home. This has to be magic, of course, it all
feels so impossible. Thank you to our supporters for making the show possible.
Today's episode featured Mary Murphy as Carol and Amber Leveling as Victoria. Today's custom
score was created by our resident composer, Niko Vedes of the Inky Pop Print.
Artwork is by Jesse Hawk of the Inky Pop Print. Our author is
Christopher Long. Story editor and producer is Daniel Foytek of Ninth Story Studios.
Until next time, keep your music box wound, be kind to those you
meet, and remember that a lift can appear anywhere, at any time.
Merry Christmas for