G R A D U A T I O N - D A Y
by John Helzer
IMAGES:
SCRIPT:
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Pg. #1
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Rain is the canvas upon which the bloody tapestry of
Mort is cast. It gives as ever-changing vista of this city-planet who's very
name, so I am told, stands for Death in some forgotten language.
The obscured shadows of pipe ridden factories and rust
encased buildings seem to crush each other as they strain to reach the sun which
has never touched them.
Supposedly, there was a time with no rain, but if it
stopped, I think I would miss it. The rain lends a sort of poetry to the
landscape, causing it to dance in and out of focus, never presenting the same
picture twice.
The lights and fires of the city glare up and reflect
off of the ever-present clouds and colour the world a particular shade of
crimson.
Indeed, Mort seems picked out and encrusted in blood.
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Pg.#2
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The rain shrouds within its folds a breed of predator
which embraces the deluge as a source of privacy and security. They are freed to
pursue their own pieces of work...the unwary, or more often, simply the unlucky.
Far from oblivious, the general populace cheers on
their favourite psychopath who nightly climbs the ratings ladder, often
unconsciously, in pursuit of the prestigious 13th kill.
While outside the screams of the dying play to the
brutal accompaniment of a Chain-Axe, viewers remain caged in their tenements,
eyes glued to their sets, as the media serves them their opinions in convenient
15 minute portions.
Within this World of Progress, TeeVee is a staple and
violence a narcotic which is demanded in ever increasing doses.
As the De-sensitised public watches, hands poised over
popcorn, there are those who repeatedly throw themselves into the inferno,
circling with the hunters in an ironic Darwinian dance.
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Pg.#3
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If the World of Progress could be said to have a god,
it would be Slayer, guiding and controlling all that occurs on Mort and
throughout known space via his company...SLA Industries.
Operatives would then be SLA's dark angels, cast out
of their respective heavens to met out justice and retribution to those who's
actions hinder the advance of the Big Picture.
I guild and arm myself with Science Friction, crimson
today, to match the world about to be exposed to me.
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Pg.#4
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Flint Locks adjusted just so, dress immaculate, deadly
yet teasing. I need to present an image if I hope to catch the public's
attention, draw the sponsors, see myself on the ad-vids realised in plastic,
complete with real Ebb Glow Eyes (tm) and Karate Chop Action.
Yes, image is everything, reality carefully masked by
the face put on for the media.
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Pg.#5
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Yes, Today appearances are very important...
After all, today is Graduation Day!