Ringing True

excerpt from Ringing True
©2010 by Robert Morrow

This segment takes place after the successful launch of the new religion, Ringing True. The web portal designed by Theo and Emmy that serves as the altar for the religion is complete with a chat room, study guides and an online store where followers can purchase items like t-shirts and jewelry. The scene takes place in the Bellevue apartment shared by Justin, Matthias and Theo.

At the start of the fourth month, Ringing True remained cyber-healthy, but for some reason had attracted little notice in the mainstream media. There were a few stray articles in a few stray newspapers and Shelby did an interview with one of the local free weeklies, but nothing more. Shelby expressed some frustration at this during one of their meetings in the new offices and Matthias explained rather defensively that he couldn’t be the CEO, CFO, CMO, COO and EVP of Sales and somehow find time to be the goddamned press agent. Emmy raised her hand and said she could write some press releases about new site features and special product offers and the others grumpily agreed that it was better than nothing.

Little did they realize that their relative invisibility was about to come to a sudden and unexpected end one wet Thursday in early spring.

A weird confluence of events led to the discovery. Theo and Emmy had taken a day off to rest and recuperate, and Emmy had wheedled Theo into watching one of the popular daytime talk shows. Justin also had the day off, as Thursdays and Fridays were his weekends, and he was responding to RingLeaders while flopped on his bed. Matthias made an unexpected appearance about halfway through the talk show, grumbled something about sons of bitches and stormed off to his room. In a few minutes, both Justin and Matthias came running out of their bedrooms in response to Theo screaming his lungs out.

“Whoa! I can’t believe it! Dudes! You’ve got to see this!”

(Theo, of course, didn’t notice it at all until Emmy poked him in the ribs and pointed to the screen.)

Matthias and Justin came tumbling into the living room to find Theo jumping up and down in front of the television, pointing and giving war whoops. Justin looked at the screen and said, “Who’s that?”

“It’s Gwendolyn Marks!” cried Emmy, who had remained seated but was positively glowing.

“So what?” asked Matthias.

“Who’s she?” asked Justin.

Emmy turned at Justin in amazement. “She’s a very famous actress, Justin,” she said, almost scolding him.

“So what?” yelled Matthias.

“Look! Look! Look at Gwendolyn Marks!” shouted Theo, still hopping.

Matthias and Justin got closer to the TV just as the camera moved to the charming but rather talkative host. They waited with irritation until the director shifted face time to the allegedly famous actress, revealing . . .

A lovely, smiling face set in Ringing True earrings!

“Sweet Mother of God!” said Matthias in a raspy whisper. “Sound! Sound! Turn it up!”

Theo turned up the sound via remote and they listened with classically bated breath to the rest of the interview.

“And in this new movie . . .” said the host.

“Sunset Magic,” Gwendolyn politely reminded the host.

“Yes, Sunset Magic. You play (looking at her cards) a 21st century witch?” said the host, with a theatrically quizzical look on her face, which she held while turning to the audience.

“Not exactly a witch. More of a sorceress. There’s a difference, you know,” Gwendolyn smiled.

“And what is that?” smiled the host in return.

While Gwendolyn explained the difference to the obvious delight of the host, the studio audience and the millions of viewers around the country, Justin interrupted her for a brief announcement.

“I know her but I can’t place her. What’s she been in?”

Emmy gave him that amazed-scolding combo look again and provided a perfectly succinct summary. “Gwendolyn Marks is one of the leading film actresses of her generation,” said Emmy rather haughtily.

“You mean she’s a movie star,” said Justin, not impressed.

“A film actress, Justin,” said Emmy peevishly. “She appears only in high quality films . . . although this one doesn’t sound like it . . . and she was in that action film last year . . .”

“The Platinum Effect,” remembered Theo.

“Anyway, she’s very famous! Nominated twice for an Oscar!”

“Oh, yeah,” said Justin, scanning his memory. “Shelby and I saw her in a movie last year in Vancouver—The Duchess, wasn’t it?”

“Yes!” smiled Emmy. “Wasn’t she wonderful?”

“Yes, she was very good, now that I think of it,” Justin admitted.

“Quiet back there!” Matthias shouted.

They all turned to watch the screen.

“So what’s up next for Gwendolyn Marks?” the host said slyly with a wink. Gwendolyn smiled and said, “A very long holiday. The last year has been terribly intense and I need some time to putter about the garden.”

“Do you garden?” asked the host, with a pasted look of surprise on her face.

“Oh no, I’m a disaster,” said Gwendolyn to audience laughter. “It’s just an expression. I’m going to catch up on some reading, maybe pick up the paintbrush again, recharge the batteries.” The American audience sighed with delight at the way she pronounced batteries without the ‘e.’

“Open your eyes, you stupid bitch! Ask her about the earrings!” Matthias muttered angrily at the host.

“Are those the soundless version or the real thing?” asked Justin.

“Who cares?” whispered Matthias. “The frigging idiot running this show is so full of herself she can’t see anything and she’s got her head so far up her ass she couldn’t hear anyway!”

Emmy smiled and whispered to Justin. “She’ll notice. Women notice these things.”

Surprised by the sexist comment, Justin was about to turn to Emmy and defend male perceptual ability when the host said:

“By the way, I love your earrings!”

Gwendolyn gave a sheepish laugh and said “Oh, Ringing True, yeah.”

“Ringing True?” asked the host.

“You’ve not heard of it?” asked Gwendolyn in surprise.

“No, tell me about it,” replied the host, feeling awkward that Gwendolyn had implied ignorance on her part.

“Ah, well, it’s a new form of religion I’ve run across. Not at all mystical, but very sensible and rather poetic in a way.”

“Really? Sounds fascinating! Now, is this religious influence part of the reason behind your long holiday?”

“Hmm, well, I think it’s had some influence in the sense that it’s very grounding and right now I do feel a need for that,” Gwendolyn explained earnestly.

“Ringing True,” marveled the host.

“Yes. They’re at ringingtrue.com,” Gwendolyn giggled with a touch of girlish embarrassment.

At that moment the tension in the living room exploded into wild laughter, jumping, dancing and fist waving. Even Justin was caught up in the excitement of how the drama unfolded, swallowing Emmy and Theo in one gulp for a huge monster hug. Matthias came down from the ceiling, breathing heavily as if he’d just run a marathon and immediately started to capitalize on the opportunity.

“Get me her agent—no, her business manager—on the phone, now!” he barked at no one in particular, but he managed to frighten Emmy so much that she said, “Yes, sir!” and ran down the hall to start the research. Theo ran after her, shouting, “Hey, I can help!” while Justin stood there trying to catch his breath.

“Ha, ha!” shouted Matthias. “We’re going Hollywood!”

With that, every last bit of excitement drained out of Justin’s soul as if someone had turned on a cold faucet, full blast.