Reunion

Okay, I know we're covering a lot in this section,

and we'll have to jump over several chapters

before the end of term.

So, we'll focus on psychosocial development

beginning in puberty through gravity,

lactation, menopause and senescence.

Even though this class isn't exactly my speciality,

the subject is tangentially related.

I can't go into it fully in the classroom setting, but...

I'm primarily concerned with the modern codification

and demystification through scientific

and rational parallels

of the twilight language of Black Magic.

Occult images and symbols that serve

a dual and unified purpose to both hide and reveal.

Obscuring truth from those who do not know and revealing truths

to those who are initiated.

The alchemical Magnum Opus, the Philosopher's Stone,

turning lead to gold, and base matter to might.

Nature from nature.

The dismemberment and re-memberment

of physical memory:

a transcendent mode of being beyond matter.

Do you understand?

- I think it's Ellie. She's here. - Yeah. I'll get it.

I'll get it.

Here. This is rubbish.

Okay.

Mom...

what are you doing here?

What... what's going on?

Who's that?

Hi, Ellie. It's Shirley.

Do you remember me?

How are you feeling?

She's great.

I'm fine... great.

We haven't seen you in so long, love.

And you're doing so well out there in the world...

- Can we please just... - Yep.

Come on. Come in.

We loved hearing about your baby,

and your book, and your engagement...

Thanks, Shirley.

We were just talking about your book and your job...

- Yeah. - We're so happy for you.

- I... - Thank you so much. Really helpful.

Yeah. No. All good.

I'll, um, I'll leave you both to it, to catch up.

Yeah. So, I'll, um...

- Must be so lovely to see each other after so long. - I'll give you...

I'll give a ring when we've got settled here.

- Okay. All good. - Yeah?

- Nice to see you, Ellie. - Bye.

You did... hey, did you know that Gus is here?

He's working on the... on the house.

Were you carrying these pregnant?

I told you, I'm still working on that book.

So, it's not finished then?

I'm almost done.

Ah, I'm just copying some notes from my lectures.

Revisions, whatever.

I just wanted to make a few last-minute changes.

But... it's basically done.

It's been a long process this book, for you.

Hasn't it?

Well, I was going to get it done with some peace and quiet.

I told you that there was work being done on the house.

- This is not quiet. - Just give me the house key.

- Please. - You need to hydrate after all of that travel.

Airplanes dry you out.

But it's good you finally got away

from that fiancée of yours.

He was an abusive man.

Why do you insist on selling this place now?

Your grandparents are barely cold,

and I have to salvage everything I can,

and look after your father.

Dad is here?

I need to be here, too.

I'm the executor of the will and...

it's not just the funeral,

and overseeing the house renovations,

it's also all of the sorting, the packing,

and then all of it being cleared out.

So, you can have a good house appraisal on Monday.

Will you please let me stay?

I really wasn't expecting you to be here.

I promise to stay out of your hair.

You won't even notice me.

In fact, I'll go into town right now

and get you a key cut.

Ooh.

Ellie, call this number if your father has an attack.

Just be careful not to agitate him.

I'll go and get the key and... you can just settle in.

Ellie?

Ellie?

Ellie? What happened?

I got dizzy.

You should rest.

Where are you going?

Well, you need to lay down.

- I made up your bed in your old room. - I can walk.

Can you get me my purse, Mom?

I need to take my baby vitamins.

I'm fine.

Ellie?

Ellie?

Ellie?!

Is baby kicking?

Thanks, Mom.

So, do you want to stay in the guest room?

I do understand.

This was my bedroom.

No. This is not your bedroom.

This is the guest room.

But it's okay if you forgot.

You never had a great memory.

It's fine. Here you go.

- Well, how is the baby? - Mom, you need to ask.

You can't just go grabbing at me...

I can't just touch my own daughter?

I'm sorry.

I'm turning your bedroom at home into a nursery,

and I'd love to know if I should paint it blue or pink.

- Do you know if it's a boy or a girl? - Mom... No.

I'm not doing ultrasounds.

Well, don't you want to know if it's deformed

or retarded or...

The baby is fine, Mom.

I'm fine.

Everything is fine.

I could paint it beige.

I'm just excited for you.

You're so lucky. I could never get pregnant.

You had me...

Oh, besides you, of course.

What's wrong?

You're really jumpy.

You did this... like that.

I'm fine.

I just want to know that you're taking care of yourself

and the baby.

Have you done any tests?

Have you gone through your medical history?

I'm trying to do this naturally.

Doctors are part of the problem.

I'll be back.

Ha. It's a good look on you, Ivy.

Gus, could you maybe take the rest of the day off?

Yeah. We talked about that.

I've got another job starts next week.

Ellie just got here. She's really tired.

She's not feeling well. I think she's napping.

Can you just get her a motel?

I'd love to.

She is insisting on being here.

I've got a lot of work to do

and I can't make up for lost time.

I know it's a pain.

Please. Come on. You can find something to do.

All right.

Just let me know when I can get inside.

Sure.

The concept of linear time is entirely modern.

Linear time, progress, history;

they all arise from the influence of human will

on natural seasonal events.

Once humans began to exert force through technology, fire,

agriculture, tools,

they observed the uniquely effectual

transformation of nature.

This effect depends on the transmutation of the elements;

turning wood to fire, for example.

And the speeding up of natural, organic and biological processes

of divinely engendered slow change,

altering, in effect, the flow of time itself...

What's your book about?

Ah, it's an academic survey

of the origins of modern science

in the Middle Ages.

How postclassical Europe developed empiricism

and experimental science...

Sounds interesting.

Oh...

Shirley dropped that.

Such a shame.

Ellie...

Ellie...

Can I have it?

And to this day, these same goals are pursued,

turning lead to gold, the extension of life,

the creation of life from matter.

The commercial goals of modern science,

the Magnum Opus of ancient alchemy,

the Black Arts of the Black Land. Khemet.

And this involved memory techniques as well.

- The use of memory to alter time. - Ellie?

I was just wondering if...