Chapter 1 “No Place Like Home”
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Chapter 2 “Past Is Prologue”
Are you ready?
Let’s do this.
I am very sorry, Helen. I know that you are ready. I just wanted to hear you say it.
I don’t need to tell you how sensitive your assignment is.
“...though the jagged edges can still cut you.”
Broken things can still have value...
To the rest of the neighbors you must appear to be a happily, married couple.
You mean just the male neighbors, right?
the neighbors. Did you forget about Amber?
No... Of course not. We’re just about done... you can bring him in.
I want to see what’s going on.
Hey, what’s going on over there?
Who are you all? Who’s the guy on the stretcher?
Hey... answer me!
No Amelia! I want to know what is going on over there!
Philip, what are you doing? Come back to bed.
Come back to bed.
Leave them alone...
PLEASE!
No -I’m going over there.
Philip...
I’m sorry.
I thought we told you Amelia... No one should be getting out of bed tonight.
Head over there and help her get him back into bed...
tomorrow she can chalk it up to a bad dream.
Ugh...
We have to hurry --- our timetable is off now.
Hurry... hurry!
Uhh....
Now all of you go... if you’re here when he wakes up you’ll ruin everything.
Jason...
I’m ready.
Chapter 3 “Living The Lie”
Thanks for your help.
Do you have any idea what you’ve done. if he remembers any of this... you have no idea...
Just get the door... I’ll carry him inside.
Thomas... I... Can we please not do this right now?
Amelia... how could you be so careless... to make a mistake like this?
Philip Hoover
1st Prize
It wasn’t a mistake...
You mean...
P HILIP HOOV ER
Water Works NEER LEAD ENGI
...I needed to see you... to talk to you... this was the only way.
I... I can’t do this anymore.
When I came here to this place... to this town I thought things would be different. I thought I would be here for a few months... a year maybe.
I didn’t realize that this was a life sentence. To live this way... to live a life... a lie every single day... I don’t think I can bare it anymore.
Can’t you just make him think that we got divorced... or I died in some horrible car accident... or moved back with my mother... Anything!? I want to come back with you... I don’t wantto die here.
Amelia... I...
This project... this thing we’ve dedicated our lives to.
It’s bigger than you... bigger than me... bigger than any of us.
For you to put it at risk like this... over something so small...
Don’t ever do anything like this again Amelia...
Thomas... we could be... again...
I’m sorry...
AAAHH!
Where are they going?
Amber... how did you?
I... I...
Amelia...
Where are they going?
Chapter 4 “Flashes + Ashes”
Your Life...
I... I...
Amelia wanted you to know...
I... am... am... ...she was the one who gave you up.
You can die now.
Flashes...
You...
...and that’s final.
I don’t care what you say. If you think I’m sending him there you truly have lost your mind.
it is not your decision to make.
I joined your project right out of college...
I have never asked for anything, never questioned you or what we are doing here... but if you send him there... I’m out.
Welcome to
TOWNE
Flashes...
This can’t be... This must be wrong.
Where did he go? Where can he be? Assistant Director Sinclair, even if he has gone... he could never leave the city.
Don’t you understand... he can do anything now... anything he wants.
Gods help us... anything he wants.
Flashes...
Knock Knock
Come in.
KNOCK KNOCK Jason...
DIRECTOR
JASON SINCLAIR
Before you say anything, let me say what I have to say.
I know that you do not want this assignment and I know that the two of you are... involved. I do not relish this, but Philip needs looking after... This is all because you don’t want to send HER. Go to hell, Jason!
Jason PLEASE. Thomas and I...
I am so sorry.
Amelia... what’s wrong?
Out of my way Helen! it should be you...
...and he knows it.
Flashes...
You kept me here as long as you could and for that I am more thankful than you will ever know.
But after tonight... I never want to see you again.
‘click I...I am... am...
...before your eyes...
Am... Amber... I’m sorry.
You could never be sorry enough...
...when you die.
Chapter 5 “Turning The Knife”
One Month Later...
“Things so seldom work out the way we plan them...”
“We think we have everything planned out... ”
“...That just because we have some grand plan that we are in control of it.”
“What hubris.”
“I once thought that... not too long ago” “I thought I could control the fate of this world...
“...now I am not even in control of my own life.”
“Such a pity.”
Right on schedule...
Do you think... this will be the last time we have to do this?
I hope so, Amelia... but Amber is the most unstable...
God... this is worst shape I’ve ever seen her in.
I want this to be the last time...
This has to be the last time...
Now help me take her home.
Amelia, did you...
...hear me?
Are you insane? First, you know how important she is.
Amelia... what are you doing?
Don’t you see Helen... it would be so much easier for her to die. It would be more humane, she wouldn’t need to suffer anymore and we could lead a normal life... well a more normal life.
Second, what do you think they’re going to do when they hear what happened to her?
Nobody needs to know... it could be our secret.
What are we going to tell them when we walk into town and her throat is slit, or her wrists cut?
We could tell them...
Do us both a favor, if you’re going to use the knife then use it on yourself... or throw it away.
clank
Good... now help me get her home.
Besides... I’m not sure we could kill her even if we wanted to.
“I do not believe that everything happens for a reason. I do not believe that good will always triumph over evil in the end.” “The only thing I believe in anymore is that actions have consequences and that I will spend the rest of my life suffering the consequences of my greatest mistake...” “...but I won’t deceive myself into thinking that this is all part of some cosmic plan. The universe’s way of balancing the scales.”
“The simple truth is that I have been given a new role to play. A new role in this grand project, What kept you?
She’s heavier than she looks.
“However, I do not relish it. I do not believe those who say I am lucky...”
Amber... Amber... wake up now.
Who... who are you?
honey, it’s me... your husband.
Welcome home.
...�to just be alive.� From the journal of Doctor Jason Sinclair
Chapter 6 “Dinner Engagement”
Do we really need to do this?
It’s tradition.
I barely know any of these people.
... and that’s the problem.
But do I have to get all dressed up? We’ve been here over a month and we’ve never had our neighbors over. I want to leave a good impression.
Alright. Can you at least help me with my tie?
How do you not know how to tie this... you’re a grown man.
Don’t blame me. I don’t have to wear many ties in my line of work.
Ok, Ok... I’ve got it.
Thanks.
Be careful... that’s really tight.
Ow!
That really hurt.
I’m sorry.
What... what happened? I remembered...
I remember...
Zach, it’s going to be ok, just relax... relax.
Just stay calm... you can get through this.
KNOCK KNOCK I think our guests are here... Zach, are you...
I’ll be alright.
Go get the door, I’ll be out in a minute.
Helen... how the hell are you doing? Thanks again for inviting us.
It is our pleasure. Feel free to have a seat at the table. Hello
Helen, I don’t believe you’ve met my wife, Amber.
It’s... it’s very nice to meet you.
Zach... come sit.
I don’t know how or why, but you’ve done something to me to make me forget.
Enjoy tonight... because tomorrow things are going to change.
I would like to make a toast!
Welcome, friends and neighbors, to our home. A wise woman once said, “Life is the biggest trap you’ll ever get caught in...
...because it’s impossible to get out alive.”
To Escape...
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Complex Prologue : Towne Charter Concept / Scripts
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Art
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Letters
Dekara dekara@impulsiveideas.com Originally published serially in Complex #s 1-6 (August - December 2011) by Impulsive Ideas. For more information on complex and other Impulsive Ideas projects go to
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Complex Series One : Towne
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