(1977; 16mm film, sound; 82 minutes; Laura Lehrer, dir.; unreleased)
Jess stands behind the chair. She appears wounded, retreating inward, her face set against further harm.
- I don’t have anything more to say.
Laura’s voice grows steadily, rising up each step of accusation.
- You created that room. You left it open for interpretation. Those people locked themselves inside. Did you ever think about what they were going through? A man was killed in there—
Jess turns away. She looks off-frame, her chest rising and falling with great effort. She can’t get enough air.
- All that pain in a place you made, and you couldn’t watch?
- We need to stop here.
- We’re not finished.
Jess looks back toward the camera, ignoring the lens, her eyes fixed on Laura.
- Turn it off.
- Ms. Shepard, I want you to—
- Turn it off.
Her shout fills the studio, a sudden blast in the white room.
The frame goes dark.