6.10
Close on Graham’s hand as he draws on the whiteboard: five circles in a row, each one rolling into the next. The marker keeps moving, sweeping around into one large circle that loops back to the beginning. It’s a large lecture room, rows of benches rising behind them. Tall windows pour daylight across the space, the board glowing in the brightness.
(taps the last circle)
This is the timeline where both of you were lost in time and where you found each other.
(taps the one before)
This is the timeline where Will changed things so Josh and Julia never met and where I met the two of you.
(taps the one before)
This is where Hannah was with Will and where the two of you met.
(taps the one before)
This is the one where I met Will before he changed things.
(taps the one before)
And we are now here.
On Hannah and Julia sitting in the school benches like two very confused students.
Wait, why are we going backwards?
Looks kind of like a rollercoaster.
You can't keep Will and Maya apart.
Wait, why not?
Because they'll be together.
But Will said time doesn't care and things just change.
Will only knows what I told him.
And how do you know?
Graham looks at them knowingly.
Oh, come *on*.
(looking at the board)
I've been on this rollercoaster for a long time. In the end, this thing loops back.
So what do we do?
I don't know.
What do you mean?
I've never been here before.
So we only know what *not* to do.
Graham, what happens in the future?
I don't know that either.
No. I haven't been there yet.
Then I assume that's the end of the line for me.
(on seeing their expressions, gently)
Don't worry. My line's a loop, too.
So what happened when you first met Will?
I can't tell you that, either.
Why not?
For the same reason I didn't tell you we met before. I can't risk anything changing.
(smiles)
Will thought I was just being principled.
But we can't keep everything the way it was.
We don't have to.
He grabs the marker and goes back to the board. He traces the loops with the marker. While he does so, he says:
For all of us Travellers, our consciousness always moves forward, even when we go back in time. This means...
After he reaches the final loop, he draws an extra flat line.
...There's a way out.
Nathalie.
Graham looks at her quizzically.
Somewhere in the future, I'm going to plant a memorial for my sister. I just haven't done it yet.
Thanks, Graham. I almost understand this.
Which still doesn't tell us what to do next.
(looking at the board, then at them)
Yes, well. I'm afraid there's only one person who has *that* missing piece of the puzzle. And right now, he's stuck in a loop of his own.