Max lay face down on the asphalt, a pool of blood spreading out around him water from a reservoir. Frank was the first one there; he turned over Max to see the gaping wound in his chest.
"Christ on a pony," Frank stated. He tried to stop the blood from escaping Max's body by slamming his palm over the wound, but to no avail.
"Oh no," Angst said. "This can't be happening. Not now." Angst turned her eyes from Max's body; she saw Suki approaching and went to her, to shield the young girl. Even though Suki had seen a lot, Angst didn't want her to see Max this way.
"It's not stopping!" Frank cried out in vain. Blood covered his hands so that it looked like he was wearing red surgical gloves. "Someone get Maggie! NOW!!!"
"It's no use, Frank. He's gone," Goner said after checking Max's pulse.
"He c-c-an't be," Suki yelled. "He's Max!"
"Now, now, child," Angst said in a motherly tone towards Suki. Angst herded Suki off to one side and you could hear the sobs coming from her. A river of tears began to flow and it spread like a contagion as Angst, Goner and now Frank seemed to be caught in its snare.
Max's lifeless eyes where staring up at the heavens, and with a wave of his hand Frank closed them.
"Cut!" a voice shouted out. "THAT WAS AWESOME! It's a wrap!"
Max's eyes fluttered open. He saw Frank, Goner, Angst, and Suki standing around him; beyond that he saw two dozen other bodies now moving about. All seemed to be in a state of celebrating something that just happened.
"That's it boys and girls," the voice said. "We've done all we could do, now it's up for the editors and FX crew to work their magic."
He didn't know what happened. He stared down at the gaping wound in his chest, his finger examining the wound, and he brought his finger up to his nose to smell. Sugary red syrup.
"Let me help you up, buddy,"Frank said to him as he offered his hand. "I think that scene has Oscar written all over it!"
"Denver," Suki said as she came over to Frank. "Are you going to The Den for the wrap party?"
"I'll be over later, Lon-Rii. Need to shower and get this shit off me."
Max sat there and looked around, a dumbfounded look on his face.
"What do you think Aaron?" Frank asked him. "You think we'll get a nomination this time around?"
20130921
Do You Feel That?
Max stepped out from his apartment, stopped and looked up at the morning sky; he saw the three red blinking eyes flying overhead. He was dressed in a pressed white t-shirt and had on khakis and nice brown dress shoes. His hair was cut and styled much akin to a James Dean movie.
He tipped a wave to the blinking eyes and then moved merrily on his way, whistling a tune. The sun was rising and the birds were singing, as if in unison and in a very Disneyesque way. Max shuddered slightly but still held his composure.
He walked with a spring in his step and a smile upon his face.
"Morning Max," the newspaper vendor said to him. The vendor had just opened his stand, and was laying out the newspapers in neat stacks, alphabetical order.
"Morning," Max acknowledged as he flipped a dollar coin onto the stand and took a paper. He tucked it underneath his arm.
"You going to the Renewal event?" the vendor ask. "It promises to be the grandest one yet."
"You'd have to be some sort of nut to miss it!" Max exclaimed excitedly. "I heard the morning announcer declare it was going to be quite the event this afternoon."
Max continued down the street; he passed by other shops and buildings and waved at shop keepers and passersby with friendly greetings. When no one seemed to notice and the three eyes had passed over the city, Max ducked down an alley. He made sure it was dark and that there was a balcony overhead.
He fished out a bent cigarette from the the fold in his pants and put it to his lips.
After he took a puff he fished out a cellphone and hit a speed-dial number.
"Professor, you got to get me the fuck out of here!" he said in a whispered voice. "One more day here and I will go on a rampage like this reality has never seen!"
"Now Max," the Professor's voice came through the phone among the static. "We are working on it at our end. Hold on!"
The Hunger
INT. FRANK'S CAR - EVENING
FRANK is driving down a busy street. MAX is riding shotgun. ANGST is sleeping in the backseat.
FRANK is dressed in a dark suit and a loose tie over a neon yellow shirt. MAX has a t-shirt that declares SUBMIT on it. He is dressed in khakis, and has a cigarette dangling from his lips. ANGST is covered up in with a blanket in the back seat.
FRANK
Well. What do you want to do this evening?
MAX
I really don't know. It's feels like years since I haven't done anything in a while. Feels weird not doing anything.
FRANK
You wanna shoot some pool?
MAX
Nah.
FRANK
Catch a game at the arena. The Blues are in town this evening.
MAX
Not my cup of action.
FRANK
How about a movie?
MAX
I really don't want to subject myself to another reality at the moment.
FRANK
You're a heck of a date.
MAX taps FRANK's shoulder and points to the BURGER REDUX restaurant that is up ahead.
MAX
I could go for a tasty burger though.
FRANK
(laughing)
Anything you want JULES.
FRANK is driving down a busy street. MAX is riding shotgun. ANGST is sleeping in the backseat.
FRANK is dressed in a dark suit and a loose tie over a neon yellow shirt. MAX has a t-shirt that declares SUBMIT on it. He is dressed in khakis, and has a cigarette dangling from his lips. ANGST is covered up in with a blanket in the back seat.
FRANK
Well. What do you want to do this evening?
MAX
I really don't know. It's feels like years since I haven't done anything in a while. Feels weird not doing anything.
FRANK
You wanna shoot some pool?
MAX
Nah.
FRANK
Catch a game at the arena. The Blues are in town this evening.
MAX
Not my cup of action.
FRANK
How about a movie?
MAX
I really don't want to subject myself to another reality at the moment.
FRANK
You're a heck of a date.
MAX taps FRANK's shoulder and points to the BURGER REDUX restaurant that is up ahead.
MAX
I could go for a tasty burger though.
FRANK
(laughing)
Anything you want JULES.
Infinity Radio
"Staff meeting," Angst called out as she walked through the room. She cuffed Goner on the side of the head. "That means you too Gonzo!"
"Oh geez, do we have to?" Goner replied. He set the pile of vinyl on the edge of his desk. "What's the gripe this time around?"
"Don't know. Don't care," Angst replied. She continued to walk through the office proclaiming the news from the head honcho.
Frank was by the coffee maker, pouring himself a fresh cup of java. Max came out of the booth and stopped to get a cup.
"You know what this is about?" Max asked.
"Don't have a clue," replied Frank. "Ain't you on the air?"
"Well, I'm a clone," Max said with a wink. "So I can get away with it."
"Playing some taped, eh?" Frank asked.
"A good disc-slinger never reveals his trade secrets," Max said...
20130920
The Hellcat
There was a rap at the door.
The doorman turned towards the door and was about to slide the peep-hole open to see who it was, his gun drawn in case it was danger. He didn't realize what hit him and sent him down on the floor.
Maggie kicked the door open and charged in, her katana swung and she caught the other doorman off guard. Sending his head one way while his body fell another.
She was a hellcat unleashed and she was showing no mercy. Her hair alive and looked as if it was on fire, her eyes seemed radiant with the intensity of hate.
"You wanted me," she shouted. "You got me!"
Jester's Wild
Maggie flipped the card over and looked at it and smiled; she dropped it onto the table with a flourish.
"Read 'em and weep, fellows," she declared after the card landed on the top of the other cards on the table.
"Well now," Frank replied. He leaned back in his chair, shaking his head in disbelief. "You must be one of the luckiest people on this planet."
"It has to be magic," Goner stated. He picked up the discarded card and stared at it, flipping the card and rubbing it. "You know she's more than she seems to be."
"Sore loser are we, Gondi?" Maggie asked as she began to rake in her chips.
"Read 'em and weep, fellows," she declared after the card landed on the top of the other cards on the table.
"Well now," Frank replied. He leaned back in his chair, shaking his head in disbelief. "You must be one of the luckiest people on this planet."
"It has to be magic," Goner stated. He picked up the discarded card and stared at it, flipping the card and rubbing it. "You know she's more than she seems to be."
"Sore loser are we, Gondi?" Maggie asked as she began to rake in her chips.
A Cafe Mission
Max sat at a table just outside the cafe, sipping a coffee and watching
the smoke drift from his cigarette and across the table. David Bowie was
singing about changes from a car passing by. Max smiled. His cellphone
sat on the table beside a package of smokes.
"You waiting for someone?" someone asked which took Max from the daydream he was about to enter and back into the fold.
"No," Max replied; he looked up into the eyes of an elderly nun. "Not really."
"Do you mind if I join you?" she asked. "This cafe is ever so busy and I saw you sitting alone. Hope you don't mind me imposing."
Being the gentleman he stood up and pulled out the chair for the nun. She sat down and gave him a nod.
"No imposing at all," Max replied. He sat down and took a long puff from his cigarette. "Hope you don't mind. It's a ritualistic habit of mine."
"No problem," the elderly sister replied with a disapproving smile.
Max gave her a I-know-something-you-don't-know wink.
"You waiting for someone?" someone asked which took Max from the daydream he was about to enter and back into the fold.
"No," Max replied; he looked up into the eyes of an elderly nun. "Not really."
"Do you mind if I join you?" she asked. "This cafe is ever so busy and I saw you sitting alone. Hope you don't mind me imposing."
Being the gentleman he stood up and pulled out the chair for the nun. She sat down and gave him a nod.
"No imposing at all," Max replied. He sat down and took a long puff from his cigarette. "Hope you don't mind. It's a ritualistic habit of mine."
"No problem," the elderly sister replied with a disapproving smile.
Max gave her a I-know-something-you-don't-know wink.
20130919
The Play's the Thing
TAKING THE BY
a very stupid short play in one act
by
Control
Cast of Characters
Max (wearing a jeans & a bright yellow t-shirt that says CHOOSE)
Maggie (wearing a futuristic robe like the kind in 'Logan's Run')
Frank (wearing a Victorian-era suit complete with Bowler)
Goner (wearing 1970's clothing along with a brimmed hat)
Angst (in a cheerleader Go Team outfit complete with pom poms)
and Mumbles
CURTAIN OPENS
[SCENE: A coffee house. There are several low tables and comfy chairs about and also a long table running with 6 chairs. MAGGIE, FRANK and GONER are seated at the long table.]
MAGGIE is sipping tea. FRANK is hovering over a crossword puzzle. GONER has a gameboy he's playing with. Once MAX enters they will put things down.
There are other customers sitting at tables in the background. MAX enters from stage right; he is tapping his cellphone screen.
MAGGIE: Hi lover.
MAX (leans forward and kisses Maggie's cheek then looks around): You see Danny Glover?
MAGGIE: You silly fool.
FRANK: What's the scoop?
MAX: I've just received word from the Professor. He has another assignment for us.
MAGGIE: Oh really now? We just got back from one of the levels of Hell and now he wants us to go off on another merry adventure.
FRANK: You think you had it easy?
GONER: We had our share of excitement as well.
MAX: I told the Professor we would take a pass on this one. I still need to get the bugs out of the system.
GONER: You ate a bug.
MAX (doing a Brando voice): I ate a bug.
MAGGIE: (laughing) Oh that's funny.
SERVER (coming over to table with a coffee pot): Refills?
FRANK (holding mug up for SERVER): Why do you ask a question that you already know the answer to?
MAGGIE (putting hand to shield mouth and talking to SERVER): Next time bring an intravenous and stick the needle in Frank's arm.
The SERVER pours Frank a cup and then continues on with the others around the table.
GONER: That sucks.
FRANK: What does?
GONER: We've haven't truly had time to really sit down and have a night just to get reacquainted again.
MAX (still doing Brando voice): The horror. The horror.
MAGGIE: Well I guess that is one of the reasons why Max took the by.
ANGST (entering from the left): So this is where everyone is hiding?
MAX: Well maybe.
FRANK (pulls out a seat for Angst): You thought we were lost?
ANGST: You never really can be sure these days.
GONER: Not really at all.
ANGST: Have you guys seen Mumbles?
MAX: Mumbles?
MAGGIE: Whose Mumbles?
FRANK (looking at Max & Maggie): Mumbles. The one who saved your sorry asses a few months ago.
MAX (looking confused): Come again?
GONER (leans forward): If it wasn't for Mumbles man, you wouldn't be here.
MAGGIE (looking at Max): Ummm honey.
MAX: You don't need to tell me.
MUMBLES (pops out from the right) April Fools!
FRANK, ANGST & GONER break out in a hearty laugh
CURTAIN
a very stupid short play in one act
by
Control
Cast of Characters
Max (wearing a jeans & a bright yellow t-shirt that says CHOOSE)
Maggie (wearing a futuristic robe like the kind in 'Logan's Run')
Frank (wearing a Victorian-era suit complete with Bowler)
Goner (wearing 1970's clothing along with a brimmed hat)
Angst (in a cheerleader Go Team outfit complete with pom poms)
and Mumbles
CURTAIN OPENS
[SCENE: A coffee house. There are several low tables and comfy chairs about and also a long table running with 6 chairs. MAGGIE, FRANK and GONER are seated at the long table.]
MAGGIE is sipping tea. FRANK is hovering over a crossword puzzle. GONER has a gameboy he's playing with. Once MAX enters they will put things down.
There are other customers sitting at tables in the background. MAX enters from stage right; he is tapping his cellphone screen.
MAGGIE: Hi lover.
MAX (leans forward and kisses Maggie's cheek then looks around): You see Danny Glover?
MAGGIE: You silly fool.
FRANK: What's the scoop?
MAX: I've just received word from the Professor. He has another assignment for us.
MAGGIE: Oh really now? We just got back from one of the levels of Hell and now he wants us to go off on another merry adventure.
FRANK: You think you had it easy?
GONER: We had our share of excitement as well.
MAX: I told the Professor we would take a pass on this one. I still need to get the bugs out of the system.
GONER: You ate a bug.
MAX (doing a Brando voice): I ate a bug.
MAGGIE: (laughing) Oh that's funny.
SERVER (coming over to table with a coffee pot): Refills?
FRANK (holding mug up for SERVER): Why do you ask a question that you already know the answer to?
MAGGIE (putting hand to shield mouth and talking to SERVER): Next time bring an intravenous and stick the needle in Frank's arm.
The SERVER pours Frank a cup and then continues on with the others around the table.
GONER: That sucks.
FRANK: What does?
GONER: We've haven't truly had time to really sit down and have a night just to get reacquainted again.
MAX (still doing Brando voice): The horror. The horror.
MAGGIE: Well I guess that is one of the reasons why Max took the by.
ANGST (entering from the left): So this is where everyone is hiding?
MAX: Well maybe.
FRANK (pulls out a seat for Angst): You thought we were lost?
ANGST: You never really can be sure these days.
GONER: Not really at all.
ANGST: Have you guys seen Mumbles?
MAX: Mumbles?
MAGGIE: Whose Mumbles?
FRANK (looking at Max & Maggie): Mumbles. The one who saved your sorry asses a few months ago.
MAX (looking confused): Come again?
GONER (leans forward): If it wasn't for Mumbles man, you wouldn't be here.
MAGGIE (looking at Max): Ummm honey.
MAX: You don't need to tell me.
MUMBLES (pops out from the right) April Fools!
FRANK, ANGST & GONER break out in a hearty laugh
CURTAIN
20130918
Running Like Fire in the Wind
INT. ALLEYWAY - EVENING
MAGS runs into the shot, not looking behind her, she is running at full speed. A few more seconds and we can see why. Hundreds of dog-sized spiders are clamoring after her. Like a massive moving wave of sheer terror.
We see MAGS pick up her cellphone. She hits a number with her thumb and brings it to her face.
MAGS:
Professor.
PROFESSOR: (V.O.)
Yes?
MAGS:
Can you help me out here. I'm in kind of a bind.
PROFESSOR: (V.O.)
Hold on.
MAGS:
Well I can, but I don't think those behind me will.
PROFESSOR:
Very well.
MAGS runs into the shot, not looking behind her, she is running at full speed. A few more seconds and we can see why. Hundreds of dog-sized spiders are clamoring after her. Like a massive moving wave of sheer terror.
We see MAGS pick up her cellphone. She hits a number with her thumb and brings it to her face.
MAGS:
Professor.
PROFESSOR: (V.O.)
Yes?
MAGS:
Can you help me out here. I'm in kind of a bind.
PROFESSOR: (V.O.)
Hold on.
MAGS:
Well I can, but I don't think those behind me will.
PROFESSOR:
Very well.
Only Death Can Save You Now
Max's eyes took in what was going on around him. He paused, his mind racing through various actions he could take. It looked like he was panicking for a second.
The huge troll stepped out of the tunnel, with big battle axe in hand and it came at Max like a runaway locomotive.
Max had emptied his clips into the damn thing; it appeared that his bullets didn't phase it.
With no other option, Max turned the guns around to be used as blunt objects and he ran towards the troll.
Four Ladies and a Wild
Frank laid the cards down on the table, and sat back and grinned. It was the first time that he had an actual grin that seemed to radiate what he felt inside. "Read'em and weep boys."
Goner tossed his cards onto the table in disgust. He was sure that he had a pat hand, but seeing Frank's ladies staring up at him made him wince in pain.
"Awww poor baby," Suki said as she leaned over and gave Goner a hug. "Do you want that towel now?"
Goner shrugged her off with a nod. He wasn't sure how, but he thought Frank had cheated.
> Debashis in Plureality 3
Finger on switch, ready to pull, a look of excitement on the face of
one. The other's siting at the table, a half-smoked cigarette resting
in the tray – menthol light – half interested.
“How about if you pull that dimmer switch less than halfway down, just to make it zap us, but not too loudly…just a whisper.”
“What’s the point? Let’s just go all the way.”
This little power struggle goes on for a bit of time. One suggesting moderation, the other insisting full steam ahead, both infusing their versions in that nice, and passive-aggressive kind of way.
“I just want a taste.”
“That’s just foreplay and masturbation – sauce and gravy – give me the meat!”
“You’re just gross. You’re an adrenaline junkie. And you’re trying to turn me into one too.”
“Geeeez!!!!! Will ya’ just live a little? With you it’s always, ‘watch out’, ‘be careful’, ‘not too much’. You’re the idiot who takes one fucking toe at a time into the pool while everyone else already swam to the other side of the crater."
“And you push too hard. Ain’t everyone like you, you know. Nothin’ wrong with going slow! And besides, it can hurt. Do damage to yourself. Why do I have join you on this shit?” A long suck from the smoke was more calming than expected.
Well, they weren’t passive-aggressive anymore. Finger on switch, one’s ready to pull, while the other glaring, wordlessly daring defiance. The catalytic electric inducer was better than sex, better than coke, better than weed. A recent invention, it could give the receiver doses of total euphoria-messed-upness that induced all the effects of any age-old vice of choice, with the same range of effects from a buzz to unconsciousness. But its effects were immediate…and maybe just a bit unpredictable.
“Come on, let’s just do this! It’ll buzz for bit, we’ll feel fucking awesome and then it’ll be over. You got nothing to lose.”
“I just don’t like the zap. That just hurts – I hate pain.”
“Don’t be such a baby. Fine, how about instead of full tilt, we’ll go three quarters. You’re a loser.”
“Look, if we can’t go one-quarter, I’m not doin’ this with you."
This half-negotiation goes on. They bully each other, half-heartedly, exchanging insults along the way. Finger on switch, one’s tempted to just pull without the other’s approval. The other inhales a mouthful of cigarette smoke, then inhales a mouthful of rum-shine brew.
“So, we’re settled on one-third power?”
“Fine. Count of three?”
Both disappointed, but ready, one arches the back, takes a deep breath, readying for the anticipated pulse of shock-buzz about to pulsate through the veins. The other, finger on switch, eyeballs getting wild with excitement and maybe even a glint of ……
“One………two……”
“I’m going to kill you after this.”
“Three!”
Finger pushes switch. An ominous hum permeates the room. Punctuations of little crackle noises. As the pulses engulf their bodies, the cat walks by and can hear from one:
“YEEEEAAAHHHHH!!!!!! LET’S KICK IT!!!!!!!”
From the other:
“I’m going to …”
Then a bang and a white flash of light, a smell of burning magnesium, a cat screech, body-vibrations. Explosions inside the brain or outside? Euphoria and lift-off.
BANG and then black.
“How about if you pull that dimmer switch less than halfway down, just to make it zap us, but not too loudly…just a whisper.”
“What’s the point? Let’s just go all the way.”
This little power struggle goes on for a bit of time. One suggesting moderation, the other insisting full steam ahead, both infusing their versions in that nice, and passive-aggressive kind of way.
“I just want a taste.”
“That’s just foreplay and masturbation – sauce and gravy – give me the meat!”
“You’re just gross. You’re an adrenaline junkie. And you’re trying to turn me into one too.”
“Geeeez!!!!! Will ya’ just live a little? With you it’s always, ‘watch out’, ‘be careful’, ‘not too much’. You’re the idiot who takes one fucking toe at a time into the pool while everyone else already swam to the other side of the crater."
“And you push too hard. Ain’t everyone like you, you know. Nothin’ wrong with going slow! And besides, it can hurt. Do damage to yourself. Why do I have join you on this shit?” A long suck from the smoke was more calming than expected.
Well, they weren’t passive-aggressive anymore. Finger on switch, one’s ready to pull, while the other glaring, wordlessly daring defiance. The catalytic electric inducer was better than sex, better than coke, better than weed. A recent invention, it could give the receiver doses of total euphoria-messed-upness that induced all the effects of any age-old vice of choice, with the same range of effects from a buzz to unconsciousness. But its effects were immediate…and maybe just a bit unpredictable.
“Come on, let’s just do this! It’ll buzz for bit, we’ll feel fucking awesome and then it’ll be over. You got nothing to lose.”
“I just don’t like the zap. That just hurts – I hate pain.”
“Don’t be such a baby. Fine, how about instead of full tilt, we’ll go three quarters. You’re a loser.”
“Look, if we can’t go one-quarter, I’m not doin’ this with you."
This half-negotiation goes on. They bully each other, half-heartedly, exchanging insults along the way. Finger on switch, one’s tempted to just pull without the other’s approval. The other inhales a mouthful of cigarette smoke, then inhales a mouthful of rum-shine brew.
“So, we’re settled on one-third power?”
“Fine. Count of three?”
Both disappointed, but ready, one arches the back, takes a deep breath, readying for the anticipated pulse of shock-buzz about to pulsate through the veins. The other, finger on switch, eyeballs getting wild with excitement and maybe even a glint of ……
“One………two……”
“I’m going to kill you after this.”
“Three!”
Finger pushes switch. An ominous hum permeates the room. Punctuations of little crackle noises. As the pulses engulf their bodies, the cat walks by and can hear from one:
“YEEEEAAAHHHHH!!!!!! LET’S KICK IT!!!!!!!”
From the other:
“I’m going to …”
Then a bang and a white flash of light, a smell of burning magnesium, a cat screech, body-vibrations. Explosions inside the brain or outside? Euphoria and lift-off.
BANG and then black.
Ticket to Happiness
"Are you an angel?" the little girl asked Maggie. Maggie and Angst happened to be passing by her. "You're so beautiful."
Maggie smiled at the little girl in the old clothes. The child had been sitting on the steps of her home. "It's amazing isn't it?" Maggie said turning back to Angst.
"What is?" Angst said.
"No matter how many shifts we go through, how many sites we capture, we always end up with similarities in each world," she said. "I guess there is no true utopia waiting out there."
"I guess if there was we wouldn't have a job," Angst stated. "And we would have never met." Maggie cracked a smile.
Maggie and Angst walked down the street, the February evening air was bitter and unwelcome. Winter was showing her true colours. Both girls walked the brisk walk as if they were going somewhere important or they didn't trust the neighbourhood that they were in. It wasn't a pretty section of the neighbourhood and they knew it wasn't the worst either.
"So what brings us here?" Angst asked. She kept in perfect stride with Maggie.
"Our feet," Maggie quipped back, making Angst chuckle.
"I know that," Angst added. "Does it serve a purpose or are we just getting our exercise?"
"Oh, if I wanted exercise I would be battling demonic hordes," Maggie replied. "Besides Angst, you should know that I have a purpose for everything I do."
Mags walked into the convenience store and looked upon the counter; she was looking at the instant win cards. Angst went over to the cooler and took out a can of pop.
"I'll take that one, that one and that one," Maggie told the cashier as she pointed to instant cash tickets.
"What are you doing?" Angst asked. She had placed her cola on the counter and was fishing for change from her purse.
"Oh, it's called gambling," Maggie said smugly.
"Smart ass," Angst chuckled.
No sooner had they left the store than Maggie began to scratch one of her tickets.
"I still got it," she said to the card. Which made Angst do a double-take, her eyes widening with excitement.
"Oh my," Angst said, peering over at the card as they walked. Seeing the secrets hidden behind the panel revealed. "What the heck are you going to do with that?"
They were walking past the house where they had seen the girl. Maggie placed the card into the mail slot, turning to Angst and saying, "They need this more than I do."
The $10,000 game prize sat in the mail box.
Maggie smiled at the little girl in the old clothes. The child had been sitting on the steps of her home. "It's amazing isn't it?" Maggie said turning back to Angst.
"What is?" Angst said.
"No matter how many shifts we go through, how many sites we capture, we always end up with similarities in each world," she said. "I guess there is no true utopia waiting out there."
"I guess if there was we wouldn't have a job," Angst stated. "And we would have never met." Maggie cracked a smile.
Maggie and Angst walked down the street, the February evening air was bitter and unwelcome. Winter was showing her true colours. Both girls walked the brisk walk as if they were going somewhere important or they didn't trust the neighbourhood that they were in. It wasn't a pretty section of the neighbourhood and they knew it wasn't the worst either.
"So what brings us here?" Angst asked. She kept in perfect stride with Maggie.
"Our feet," Maggie quipped back, making Angst chuckle.
"I know that," Angst added. "Does it serve a purpose or are we just getting our exercise?"
"Oh, if I wanted exercise I would be battling demonic hordes," Maggie replied. "Besides Angst, you should know that I have a purpose for everything I do."
Mags walked into the convenience store and looked upon the counter; she was looking at the instant win cards. Angst went over to the cooler and took out a can of pop.
"I'll take that one, that one and that one," Maggie told the cashier as she pointed to instant cash tickets.
"What are you doing?" Angst asked. She had placed her cola on the counter and was fishing for change from her purse.
"Oh, it's called gambling," Maggie said smugly.
"Smart ass," Angst chuckled.
No sooner had they left the store than Maggie began to scratch one of her tickets.
"I still got it," she said to the card. Which made Angst do a double-take, her eyes widening with excitement.
"Oh my," Angst said, peering over at the card as they walked. Seeing the secrets hidden behind the panel revealed. "What the heck are you going to do with that?"
They were walking past the house where they had seen the girl. Maggie placed the card into the mail slot, turning to Angst and saying, "They need this more than I do."
The $10,000 game prize sat in the mail box.
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