Conversation · Hand/Eye Coordination

It's a shame. Recognition from an actual police officer would probably mean a lot to her. Too bad she'll never know...

She will know. (Hang the Setting Sun medal on her chest.)

"Mr. Morrand... Gareth, thank you. Thank you!" As the sharp end of the pin grazes the flesh, a blessed smile emerges. Then it expires, and like a shadow moving on the ground, all sentience fades again.

Mr. Morrand? Mr. Gareth Morrand, the former cop, turned Channel 8 crime show host? That Gareth Morrand from the radio?

Morrand's from Traffic.

As in 'Traffic' police?

It's all nancies up there in Traffic. I count zero balls.

That... was the most honourable thing anyone has ever done, Harry.

The woman stands motionless. Just a heap of clothes and flashers now -- maybe if you search her?

That... was the most honourable thing anyone has ever done.

That... was the most honourable thing anyone has ever done. You are virtue embodied.

You weirdo. Get outta here before anyone sees you.

Nah, that's not worth it.

Doesn't look like she would know the difference anyway.

Lieutenant Kitsuragi would probably know what to do, but right now you're just gonna have to leave her like this.

The locals will take care of her. Someone's bound to know her family. Nothing you can do for her anymore.

"You're not alone. We're all here."

The woman stands in front of you, motionless, unresponsive. Almost like an inanimate object now. A mountain of police paraphernalia.

In there she is alone, trapped in a world of blue and red lights.

Her children and their children, if there were any, stopped coming when it got really bad.

But it feels like you are, because the old woman standing there is motionless, emotionless and unresponsive. Almost like an inanimate object.

Kim Kitsuragi is a nice guy. Wish he was here right now.

"What do you think is happening to her?"

"She's in a stupor," the lieutenant replies, inspecting the catatonic woman standing in the dark. "I've seen this before. God knows for how long... Could be days when they get like this."

"Understood."

"I've had... disturbances similar to this before. Many calls, but... never this bad."

"But why was she like this in the first place?"

"Honestly, I don't know. Dementia, probably," he lowers his voice. "Dementia and Channel 8. And loneliness."

Nod. "Neurodegenerative disease."

"Could be," agrees the lieutenant. "Her hands were trembling and she did seem uncoordinated... But what are we gonna do with her?"

"I guess we'll never know."

"Probably not," the lieutenant agrees. "But more pressing is the question of what to do with her right now?"

"Yes. This is what happens when you listen to too many cop shows on the radio."

"There's a bit more to this than that," the lieutenant disagrees. "But right now we need to decide what to do with her."

"You're probably right." (Nod.) "Loneliness."

"Looks like a bad case." He gives the woman a compassionate look. "But the question is what to do with her right now."

"I'm very sorry this is how life turned out for you." (Gently touch her shoulder.)

Her scratched skin is warm to the touch, but the person inside doesn't even know you're there.

Okay, you need to figure out what to do with her now.

Great gears are grinding to a halt. The machine is powering down. She's all out of jolt.

"I'm done with this gun." (Leave it behind forever.)

Weapon still trained on The Pigs, the lieutenant swiftly reaches down to snatch up the gun.

"Why would they cheat me like this?! I don't have ANYONE!" She slams her heavy boot in the ground. The impact travelling through the planks, sends your gun through the crack, into the black nothingness below.

That gun was the single greatest thing you had. This is an enormous loss.

That gun is a joke compared to the actual greatest thing he lost.

"Phew..." The lieutenant exhales sharply. "For a moment there..."

I was 80% sure the gun is empty and still the instinct almost took over.

In your peripheral vision the lieutenant releases the half-squeezed trigger.

"God..." the lieutenant exhales loudly and uses his off-hand to wipe his forehead. "I almost blew her head off..."

CONDITION BLACK, ALL SYSTEMS CRITICAL!

No... no-no-no-no. THEY'RE REALLY NOT. The gun wasn't even loaded. No shots fired. You're fine.

Oh... I see. Okay, the gun was empty. All is good. You're fine.

(Whisper.) "Kim, I'm almost certain there are no bullets in that gun."

"You're right," the lieutenant agrees. "Let's call her out on this."

"I've been thinking that too. But it's impossible to tell for certain in these lighting conditions."

Yeah, with shit-eyes it must be, binoclard.

"Huh?" The lieutenant studies the swaying firearm. "My god, I think you're right."

"My god, it's not loaded... The gun isn't loaded!"

"What...?" The woman looks at the weapon in disbelief, her eyes suddenly reddish with tears. She looks straight down the barrel... and squeezes the trigger.

"Wait..."