White noise. Static, crackling. Crossed wires, ones and zeros, but quadrillions of them, moving at the speed of light in a chaotic tempest, overheating, sucking the air out of
[ONE NINE.. ONE NINE. SEVEN?]
An image of a stone face, flashed before, five black ravens. Purple lightning, crashing on the beach, Margaritas, laughter, rioting, screams.
Dark side of the moon, tranquility. Emerald rays, glistening bays, Spiders descending.
Unger, Over, Roger that.
Red and black and white hats.
Nuance is lost, nothing is real.
Seals broken, stones collapse, parting of the sea.
We see Telly driving, banging his head and growling, illegally wearing headphones as he cruises above the speed limit across empty plains.
His phone rings. Verizon’s default ringtone. He looks down, takes out his headphones.
TELLY: What’s up, babe?
The hair salon, Rose is calling. It’s busy, all seats with customers.
ROSE: Where are you?
TELLY: On my way home, got some writing done. Figured I’d pick up some bacon and maybe some wine for dinner? You want anything else?
ROSE: Well, bacon for dinner sounds pretty weird. How about some fish tonight?
TELLY: [sighing] Yeah, I didn’t mean for dinner. You were saying you need me to bring home the bacon. I can cook some fish, sure. You want anything else?
ROSE: Well, I remembered I’m having a few drinks tonight with friends from work. So I might be a bit late getting home.
TELLY: [angry] What?! I’ve been working all day, you said you wanted me to pick up food, and now I’m on my way to do that. What do you want me to do?
ROSE: Well, there’s a pizza in the freezer. Sorry, I have to go. [hangs up]
ROSE: Sorry about that, hon. What are we doing for you today?
The door bell clings, and officer McClinty steps in.
MCLINTY: Howdy, ladies.
IZZY: I’m tired of the blue, lets shave it all off!
ROSE: [laughing] Careful what you wish for! But yeah I can buzz one side, maybe give you that —
MCLINTY: Sorry to interrupt, but have y’all been catching the news reports?
Rose and Izzy and Sam and Pedro and some extras turn their heads and listen.
MCLINTY: The power’s out across the lake region, and some reports of looting. It’s only about 45 minutes from here.
The screen breaks up, and static covers the scene like an old VHS tape caught on the magnetic heads.
Cut to black.
Leave a Reply