Scene from a memory
I’ve been on a search of the detailed story of Dream Theater’s “Metropolis Pt 2: Scenes From A Memory” album. All I knew was that the entire album is about a girl who was murdered in 1928. She had had an affair with two brothers which led to her being murdered. The question was which brother had killed her. I Googled and came across different analyses. Well I think I got the answer but I’m left with a different Qs in my head. Till date I don’t think anyone has understood the real concept totally. I am sharing what I think is the analysis that came closest to the lyrics and videos (Not my analysis as I haven’t seen the videos yet). I’m just altering the manner of presentation of the story. The ending is what bumps you off, leaving you confused and wanting to find out more.
Brief History:
Metropolis Pt 2 is not a sequel of Metropolis Pt 1 (Images and Words album) but more of a modern setting of the latter. Part1 is inspired by the story of Remulus and Remus, two twin brothers, who fought for the city called Rome. The love for the city touched the darkest parts of their hearts that it would destroy them both. A major theme of the story was that the three Dances — Death, Deceit, and Love — go on for eternity.
The present:
Nicholas
The Hypnotist
The old man
1928:
Victoria
Senator Edward Baynes aka The Miracle
Julian Baynes aka The Sleeper
Act 1
Scene 1: Regression
Nicholas is entering a hypnotic state in search of truth in a regression therapy. The Hypnotherapist starts the countdown
“10, 9, 8, 7 You will enter a safe place where nothing can harm you…5, 4, 3, 2..If at any time you need to come back, all you must do is open your eyes…1”.
The lyrics of this song describe how Nicholas feels as he is being regressed to a previous time where he meets Victoria. The reason for the therapy is not yet known.
Scene 2: Overture 1928
This is a pure instrumental number. The title explains the year to which Nicholas is being regressed back.
Scene 3: Strange deja Vu
This scene tells us about the “pleasant nightmares” that Nicholas has been having. He is haunted by visions. He has this mixed feeling of love and pain every time he has this dream. He knows something terrible is going to happen, but he is so eager to find out what is it that has been haunting him. He sees a house (Victoria’s, but he doesn’t know her yet in this scene). He is drawn to that house and finds it very familiar. In a room at the top of the stairs, he sees a girl in the mirror. Her face becomes clearer with every dream that he has. He doesn’t know her but something seems very familiar to him. He asks her “Young child, won’t you tell me why I’m here”. Looking into her eyes, he senses a story locked inside her and tearing at her soul. She wants to break free. She says
I just can’t help myself
I’m feeling like I’m going out of my head
Tears my heart into two
I’m not the one the Sleeper thought he knew
He wakes up from his dream. Something was awfully familiar which makes him wonder if it was his past life. He is determined to find the link. He looks for help just as Victoria went to Edward.
Scene 4: Through My Words
In this scene, Nicholas realizes that he was indeed Victoria in a past life. They are sharing one eternity in two minds joined by a link impossible to break.
Scene 5: Fatal Tragedy
The dreams continue to haunt him and he is very disturbed which makes him all the more determined to find out what happened to that girl. He meets an old man who seems to be alone and whom he felt he could trust. The old man seems to know about the murder. He also seems to know who Nicholas is and what he’s looking for. He confirms that a girl was murdered there, but the murder was never resolved completely. He seems to know more than he’s saying but he’s leaving up to Nicholas to find out the rest.
Scene 6: Beyond This Life
Headline: Murder
Young girl killed
Desperate shooting
At Echo’s Hill
Dreadful ending
Killer died
Evidently
Suicide
A witness heard a horrifying sound
He ran to find a woman dead and lying on the ground
Standing by her
Was a man
Nervous, shaking
Gun in hand
Witness says he
Tried to help
But he turned the weapon
On himself
His body fell across that poor young girl
After shouting out in vain, the witness ran to call for assistance
A sad close to a broken love affair
Nicholas reads the newspaper account of the tragedy that happened on January 28th, 1928. The girl’s name was Victoria. As per the account, the witness found Victoria dead on the floor and Julian standing by her side with a gun in his hand. Julian then shot himself and fell over Victoria’s body. Victoria wanted to love Julian forever but he lost himself to gambling and alcohol. She couldn’t love a wayward man. She would have forgiven him if only he tried to change. This drove Victoria to Edward. This gives a hint that maybe Julian later found out about the affair of Victoria with Edward, and he decides to end both their lives. Nicholas plays with the idea that Julian contacted Victoria to get back together again. Victoria, thinking that he has changed agrees to meet. But maybe Julian had other plans: a murder-suicide from the start. Nicholas reads the description of the crime in the newspaper. There seemed to be a struggle, a fight, and a switchblade on the ground. Why would Julian carry a switchblade if he had a gun. So Nicholas thinks it must have been Victoria who carried it for self protection. But from whom or why? Also they found a note in the killer’s pocket which said
“I feel there’s only one thing left to do
I’d sooner take my life away than live with losing you”
One odd thing was that there was nothing said about hurting Victoria. The remaining lyrics of this song is trying to say that the deeds of the past life continues to plague “…what we have been is what we are”.
Scene 7: Through Her Eyes
Nicholas feels Victoria was caught into something she couldn’t escape from and injustice was done against her. He realizes that this had happened to him and the unfairness of it starts to nag him.
“In loving memory of our child
So innocent, eyes open wide”
Nicholas visits Victoria’s grave and reads the words on the tombstone. This helps detail her image as she died, eyes open wide, as if she was taken by surprise. Nicholas feels like he’s watching the grave of a part of him, which is actually true. He is overcome by sadness. On learning about Victoria’s death, he starts to appreciate his own life. He says goodbye to Victoria’s spirit, regains composure and feels he can now move on.
Act 2
Scene 8: Home
Now we are going back to 1928. Julian is talking about his obsession of gambling and drinking. He realizes that living this evil charade is getting him nowhere and he’s losing Victoria. He wishes to go back to her and rekindle their relationship. He is struggling to break free but the obsessions are trying to drown him.
Edward is talking about Victoria coming to him some time ago, with tears in her eyes. Probably she and Julian had a fight and she had come to him for help. He feels this desire of taking advantage of their damaged relationship and take her for himself. He is obsessed with her. He knows it’s wrong but he can’t resist. In the course, Victoria and Edward’s affair starts. He justifies himself by thinking Julian and Victoria were getting nowhere. He would make her his wife. Her love is worth betraying his brother.
Scene 9: Dance Of Eternity
Instrumental. The idea is that Death, Deceit and Love will go on for eternity and destroy all.
Scene 10: One Last Time
Nicholas is not aware of the happenings in Scene 8. He heard about a rumor told that Victoria had an affair with Edward. He also finds holes in the newspaper account of the murder-suicide tragedy and wants to uncover the truth. He wonders if Victoria broke up with Edward harshly and if that could play a role in the murder.
Victoria, in the past again, is telling Edward that this is their last meeting and she is ending the affair.
Nicholas goes to Edward’s house which seemed to hold many clues, finally confirming him what he has been thinking. Memories begin flooding in and he sees the house just as it was in 1928.
An open door
I walk on through
Into his bedroom
Feeling as cold as outside
The walls disappear
To some woman who’s screaming
A man pleads forgiveness
His words I cannot hear
Victoria is saying goodbye to Edward while he is pleading her not to go. [A catch here which is nagging me: Why does Nicholas see Victoria as “some woman” as he knows her face by now. And why would Edward plead for forgiveness?? I’m really confused with these lines ]
Scene 11: Spirit Carries On
Nicholas reflects on the lessons that he’s learned from Victoria. He realizes he may never understand what happened to Victoria and may never be able to prove the truth he knew, but he won’t give up. Victoria tells him to move on and not weep at her grave, but keep her in his heart and never forget her. He is no longer afraid of death. If he dies tomorrow, he’ll be alright because he believes that after we are gone the spirit carries on.
Scene 12: Finally Free
This scene opens with Nicholas being brought out of hypnosis followed by Edward at the crime scene. His hands are painted with blood and he feels bitter about Victoria leaving him for an ungrateful man. Sole survivor, no witness, he decides to act fast and plants the suicide note in Julian’s coat.
Then Victoria is talking about how good she felt when she ran into Julian. He wanted to get back with her. She wants to tell him that she always loved him. She would break free of “the Miracle”, it’s time for him to go. She worries that Edward would kill Julian if he found out.
They met at Echo’s hill. They thought it was a secret place no one would find. But Edward turns up. Edward and Julian struggle a little but Edward hits Julian. Julian pulls out the switchblade but Edward shoots twice at Julian. Victoria screams. Edward walks up to her and says
Open your eyes, Victoria.
Then shoots her twice.
Julian, with whatever breath left in him, drags himself towards Victoria. He finally pulls his body over Victoria’s and he dies. These were his words before dying:
One last time, we’ll lay down today
One last time, until we fade away
One last time, we’ll lay down today
One last time, we fade away
Transition is back to Nicholas. He feels free at last. No more torn between two. He tells Victoria they would meet again someday. He goes back home. The TV is on with CNN report on JFK Jr.’s death. He turns it off, makes himself a drink and turns on an old record player, phonograph to be specific. He is there sitting on a chair relaxing when suddenly the Hypnotherapist walks in and says:
Open your eyes Nicholas
Nicholas is startled and lets out a yelp. The phonograph is knocked over and a sound of static plays until the end of the track. The scene fades to black.
The End.
What happened? In one version of the DVD, it seems it is made clear that the Hypnotherapist kills Nicholas. Does it make sense??
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