19centconstable | Case #38 Video

Entry tags:

Case #38 Video

[George is eating an orange. And so can you!

He's also thirty-one again. Yes, George is thirty-one. I know.]

I don't think anyone was poorly done by that, were they? It is a bit strange to recall that I couldn't have even pictured myself as a police officer at that age, as now I can't picture myself as being anything else. Besides a detective, obviously. And a writer.

[George chews thoughtfully.]

Although...I don't believe any of the lads back home always yearned to join the constabulary. Not at our station, anyway. I am pleased it's something modern children seem to dream of.

...I also think you all might appreciate indoor plumbing just a bit more than you do. It really is fantastic.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

So, how did you become a cop, if you don't mind me asking?

Well. I had heard the constabulary was taking lads on, and that the pay was good, so I...did.

Fair enough.

I did have to exaggerate my equestrian prowess. Slightly.

I still think you're one of the only good cops we've got left on board.

Thank you very much for saying. It certainly means a lot to hear that sort of thing.

Modern children are being fed a lie. They join the force hoping to do good and become fuckin' monsters in the process.

I don't...think that's true...

[Hoffman has been...hiding. All kinds of hiding. He clears his throat]

...For the record, I didn't real start wanting to be a cop until I was six.

[after his father went crazy.]

That isn't very old at all.

Well it was after...After my mother. [harrumph. Adult noises. Harrumph.]

Also, we need to talk.

[The world switches to video and Hoffman pans it over to see a rather extensive hamster habitat. Setting it down in front him, he holds up a purple plastic ball.

Inside is something small and furry scrambling at it]

...What's this?

[George looks pleased with himself.]

A pet!

It's a hamster.

[It's not a pet, it's food dude.]

I woke up and I nearly kicked the thing out of the room. He was rolling around in a purple ball across my room. He's terrified.

[A pet? Really? a hamster? Hoffman pops open the ball and picks up the tiny creature with one hand. Setting the communicator down, he holds it in both hands]

...He's big.

[He's a little bigger then the biggest hamster breed. The admiral's cool that way. Hoffman sounds a little...awed.]

[No Hoffman what why would you eat a hamster no.]

Is it the purple that frightened him?

I asked that the Admiral furnish you with a pet, and I was expecting a dog, or a kitty cat, but he produced this fellow. And I nearly asked that he take him back, but then I couldn't because: just look at his wee face!

...Why would purple frighten him? It's his hamster ball. [He can't even. You just said kitty cat dude.] It's so he can run around. Here..

[He moved to put the hamster in the ball again and picked up the communicator. There's a habitat on one of the tables along with a huge...habitat. Tunnels and dirt and even little kinds of trees. It's really fascinating.]

...This came with him, but he likes the ball.

Because everything looks pur-...it's not terribly important.

What have you named him?

...Well I can't let him run around regularly can I. Unless I want him to run away.

[Hoffman moves back to the couch-only to find the ball on the floor.]

Spud.

Spud the potato.

[this is ...something only George has seen since coming to the barge. No angst. No shame. Just happiness. Gruff happiness. Hoffman has an almost tender look on his face as he grabs for the ball]

..He's what my sister would call "A chubster" and resembles a potato somewhat.

He does resemble a potato. An excellent name.

[Hoffman smiles. He doesn't stop smiling either] He's got this little forest thing, and like, a burrow and a whole little exercise room- [He moves over to it-dozens of different wheels]

The admiral went all out for the little guy.

[he stops]-did you get my gifts?

I did!

[George proudly films his foot. It has a boot on it, but still.]

And I quite look forward to the reading.

I've got a pair of those too. My sister got them for me one Christmas? Just-hand wash them. Don't put them in any of the machines or you'll zap yourself. You can remove the mechanism but it's tricky and you-can't get it back in.

[tried this? No whatever gave you that idea.]

...Good. I wanted..I dunno I figured maybe at some point we could talk cop stuff.

I would enjoy that very much. I'm always interested to hear about new procedures and techniques.

It's not like I can fucking do anything with it. [bitter? Nah whatever gave you that idea] It's not like I can ever do anything with them again but I'm damn proud of what I know and I figured you could use them.

What do you mean? Why not?

...I-

[he stops] it's nothing. Forget it. It's stupid to think I-

...It's nothing.

No, please: do say.

...I may as well you know, try and share knowledge since I can't use it again right? I never liked the idea of teaching.

Who says you could never use it again?

...George let's be fucking honest okay?

[Who else are you going to talk to about this?]

...since being here I've been killed, mutilated, and killed and mutilated in turn. Not to mention the 9 cops I killed. And my friends.

[He's been struggling with this.] ...I hate myself. For what I did.

Yes. Well. What do you propose to do about it?

...I don't know. Fuck if I know? I don't..I don't know. I don't know at all.

Simply hating yourself for it isn't acceptable.

...Well what the fuck would you do? What should I do?

[he's cranky because it's the new years and he can't drink. And he got alcohol for Christmas and he still can't drink.

He is...really trying.]

...Tell me goddamnit!

I would try to make up for it somehow.

[he's having a hard time articulating this.] ....Yeah? I suppose I'm..[he twitches] I'm bracing myself for an eternity of paying it back. For living for others, for-

[He both wants to do right and doesn't. The prospect of facing how much his life has changed and how he really should completely devote himself to the service of others

He can't face it. He knows he did wrong. He doesn't want to. He sounds petulant and angry-despite his words.]

.....what should I do?

Edited 2012-01-01 22:11 (UTC)

That's not the sort of thing I can tell you, Detective. You've got to figure it out for yourself, and you have to want to.

Why? Why?! Why can't you just...tell me what to do? I keep thinking of everything that I've lost and everything that I lost on purpose and all of the things that I did wrong and it's my fault and..

[There's a thunk. Hoffman leaves the camera behind. When he comes back, he's holding the hamster in his hands.]

...The only option that I see is a life of complete and utter atonement-alone.

Because that sort of thing has got to come from within you to mean anything.

How would your being alone help people?

[Hoffman just holds the hamster, scratching it behind the ears thinking quietly.]

...never mind.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

Case #38 Video

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

[Private]

Re: [Private]

Re: [Private]

Re: [Private]

Re: [Private]

Re: [Private]

Re: [Private]

Re: [Private]

Re: [Private]

Re: [Private]

Re: [Private]

Re: [Private]

Re: [Private]

Re: [Private]

Re: [Private]

Re: [Private]

Re: [Private]

Re: [Private]

Re: [Private]

Re: [Private]

Re: [Private]

Re: [Private]

Re: [Private]

Re: [Private]

Re: [Private]

Re: [Private]

Re: [Private]

Re: [Private]

Re: [Private]

Re: [Private]

Re: [Private]