Category: Shade

Scene: As if by magic

Shade

It is the 1970s, in a quiet suburban road of terraced houses. Children play in the street, retired folk are walking their dogs, and a business man leaves the house. No umbrella today for him today, for although there are clouds, the sun peeks through cheerily. The front door closes with a soft click and Mr Wenn makes his way across the short path to the garden gate. A football bounces by and he smiles, remembering his more youthful days. The office has been closed today and he was already for work when the telephone rang. What should he do with his day off? The house was tidy, the laundry done, and he had not brought any work home with […]

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Scene: Piblington Baggage

Shade, Uncategorized

A man sits on a cheap plastic chair. The factory space is cold, damp, and a bright light shines is his face. There is little sound except the the occasional drip of water. Robert Hooksmith: Hullo? Is, is there anyone there? I’m very cold and someone’s tied me to this chair. Elderly voice: Hooksmith, you sit before the Council of People. Your crime is the abandonment of ethics – Robert: That’s not a law. I object! Elderly voice: As I was saying, the abandonment of ethics and the unlawful cancellation around the ECHR. Robert: Is this the toilets thing again? You woke nutters, you’ll – Young voice: Silence! The European Court of Human Rights. Do you not pay attention to […]

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Scene: The Network

Shade, Uncategorized

Two smartly dressed Victorian gentlemen are making the way through rough ground, trying to reach a windmill. Watson: This way Holmes. Not much further. Holmes: Yes, I can see that. Watson: Don’t be snippy, Mister You-can’t-top-my-IQ-on-a-dartboard. Holmes: Why in the name of evidence and deduction is this internal contraption stuck out in the depths of beyond? Watson: I believe this is Norfolk. Just be glad we’re in the bits above sea level. Holmes: Gah! Nettles. I’ve been stung in places I didn’t know I had places. Do you have my medicine, by the way? Watson: Here, rub this on it. Holmes: Rumex obtusifolius, Watson? Really? Watson: Rufus who-it-wotsit? Holmes: A dock leaf! Watson: Yes, I know it’s a blooming dock […]

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Scene: The Cabal

Shade, Uncategorized

A dimly lit space in a once posh looking restaurant. A fug of steam hangs in the air. There’s a strong and delicious scent of freshly baked bread.A circular table rests in the centre, while collection of mismatched chairs bump up against it. Voice 1: Good evening colleagues. Welcome to the quarterly meeting of the Cabal of Chaos. I am Operator X, standing in for Doctor Crash. He sends his best and is recovering from a bad cold. Oh, sorry! I nearly forgot. My preferred pronouns are he/him. Voice 2: Thank you, Operator and welcome to the Cabal. I am Entity 9. Yes, recently escaped from the Institute’s maximum security unit, CX4. Oh, and my preferred pronouns are they/them or […]

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Scene: A new life awaits

Shade

A group of people gather on the shore of an ancient island. Behind them, a volcano steams and rumbles, darkening the skies. Classic architecture has fallen or leans precariously.Water washes up from the sea and spills over the marble walkway. Ocul: New sandals then Rafus? Rafus: Yeah, double platforms. They help keep my toga dry when I go downstairs to make breakfast. Bit scary if you tumble off them, but needs must eh? Ocul: I’ve moved the breakfast things on to the roof. Luckily, the balcony we had put in to the bedroom makes it easy to fish for meals. That and, uhh, the amount of fish in our house. Rafus: Talking of food, did you bring the items? Ocul: […]

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Scene: Piblington on Sea

Shade, Uncategorized

A small podium has been set up in front of a government building by the seaside. Press and the public are gathered around. Robert Hooksmith, Mayor: Good morning everyone and thank you for coming to the mayoral election announcement and Q&A. Polite applause ripples through the crowd and cameras flash. Mayor: Thank you everyone. Through our collective hard work and effort, we’ve got Piblington on Sea on the up. Employment is much improved, the sea front has been fully restored to it’s Victorian glory, and crime & antisocial behaviour are lower year on year. There’s some muttering and shaking of heads in the crowd. Mayor: -Ahem- I come before you today to ask that you support our party in dealing […]

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