Brevity
Charcoal City... a bustling metropolis to most... but to Dioptase, the world renown and anonymous street artist... a canvas.
When a painting bought by a local tattooist is revealed to be of incredible value, the procurer and her friends find themselves targeted by the corrupt parties that want it for themselves.
In order to preserve the message and keep the painting out of the hands of a villainous mob family, the mysterious creator must intervene while circumnavigating their own complicated connections to the predicament.
Brevity is a mini-series saga of art, crime, family, friendship, labor, and hidden identity.
Brevity
Episode 10
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A Team Assembles... Impossible Plan Takes Shape... Brotherhood Unite!...
Voice Actors: Tara Kempton, CJ Cinco, Matthew Abergel, Daniel Sorrick, Josh Mihal, Andy Bates, Scott Wike, and Sam McMorris.
Written, Narrated, and Produced by Mark Johnston
www.constellationaudio.biz
Photo Credit: Seth Steward
Music by Mark Johnston
Constellation Audio proudly presents. Brevity by Mark Johnston. Episode Ten. The large door to the band's rehearsal room at Polaris High Performance rolls open, allowing Coral and Gage to enter. Christian, Ephraim, and Laszlo are already inside.
SPEAKER_01What the hell, dude? You had to go and piss him off like that? Who cares about your stupid wall art or what it costs? My friend is a hostage now because of you. I hope you had fun playing Phantom, because I will give up Dioptes in a second to get her back. Same with this stupid snowflake painting.
SPEAKER_02I know, I know. I'm so sorry, Coral. Just give me a second. I'm gonna make it right. We'll get her back. I promise. By the way, this is Laszlo and Ephraim. They are my confidants. We don't have any secrets.
SPEAKER_01Hi. It's nice to meet you guys. Sorry for bursting in like that. This is Gage, also someone I trust.
SPEAKER_02Welcome, Gage. We're all a team now. We can figure this out.
SPEAKER_01We have to give them what they want. I don't see another way. It is your family. They aren't gonna hurt you, right?
SPEAKER_02Who knows? But yes, we do need to give them what they want. And I have no problem giving up their identity. It's probably time anyway. My sister is already suspicious. But I can't guarantee Gem's safety if we attempt a simple transaction. These aren't honest people. I know that I put you there, but you guys are in their web now. Witnesses get buried in building foundations. I don't see a path where they just let you walk out of there. We have to rescue Gem first, then fulfill our end of the deal to hopefully keep them off your back for a time.
SPEAKER_07So how do you plan on doing that? We don't even know where they took her.
SPEAKER_02Correct. That would be the first order of business. Finding Gem. My guess would be somewhere in the tower, but we're gonna need an exact location. Any ideas? Track someone who will go there? Great idea. That would most likely be my sister. She has her hands in everything. No doubt she'll be in that room at some point. Can we get a tracking device? I think I can round something up. How do we get it on her? Leave that to me. I'll come up with something. Next, we're gonna need some kind of diversion. Anything that would draw security away from wherever they're holding Jim.
SPEAKER_07I saw in the news today that the union is having some kind of grievance within itself. The reporter said something about a protest.
SPEAKER_02Okay, there's a lead. Do we know exactly which day it will be on? If we only have 48 hours, this needs to happen like tomorrow.
SPEAKER_01I might know a guy.
SPEAKER_02Okay, great. Do what you can. Last thing for now, and it won't be an easy feat. We're gonna need my brother's passcode. He's the head of security. If we have his pin, it will get us into any locked room in their section of the building.
SPEAKER_01Wait, are you talking about the big burly creep giving orders up there? He's your brother?
SPEAKER_02Giant buff, dumb idiot in a tight shirt directing security? Yeah, that sounds like him. Unfortunately, we are related.
SPEAKER_07Wait, that's not the guy that Jim was talking about, was it? Captain Leftfoot or something?
SPEAKER_01Yeah, it was. Captain Left Hook, right? This is gonna sound crazy, but I might have an idea.
SPEAKER_02What the hell are you guys talking about?
SPEAKER_01Jim recognized his voice at the tower and found him in some VR video game playing as a pirate. It's so dumb.
SPEAKER_06Whoa, dude. Your brother's like a cosplayer or something? Sounds like metaverse gaming. Role-playing with different avatars and whatnot.
SPEAKER_02Wow, I wish I could say I'm surprised, but I'm really not. And he's been known as Lefty since his amateur boxing days, so Left Hook? Does sound like some stupid pirate name he would give himself. You think you can like hack him somehow or what?
SPEAKER_01No idea. I need a brainstorm. I don't even know how to use the damn thing. But Jim said that she was getting access to his pirate ship or something.
SPEAKER_02Nice. Alright, see what you can do. Laz, do you think you could help her with the tech? I should be able to figure it out. Okay, cool. Alright, team. If we can get Jem's location, Larry's passcode, and some kind of protest going tomorrow, we might have a fighting chance at saving Jem. Also, Coral, we talked about a use for that painting. If we can pull this off, we may just get our chance.
SPEAKER_03Coral, there you are.
SPEAKER_01You want a sandwich? No, thanks. I don't have long. Thanks for meeting me.
SPEAKER_03Uh make that to go. Of course, what's up? You won't believe how many compliments I've gotten on this tattoo. It's truly incredible. You might have a few of my friends come to see you to get some work done. I'm like your walking billboard.
SPEAKER_01Thanks, Freddie. That's so great to hear. Listen, so I know you're involved in the union. And then I heard something about a protest?
SPEAKER_03Yep, my dad's the senior member organizing the demonstration. We're fed up with those goddamn archimbos. They don't represent us. Don't give a damn about our welfare. The union's just a front for their crime syndicate. We've had enough.
SPEAKER_01Good for you. Sure sounds like a dissenting voice is needed. Won't be easy though, I imagine. Deck will be stacked against you.
SPEAKER_04Yeah, we're aware. Freddy pulls up his sleeve to reveal his tattoo. We're an ocean, right?
SPEAKER_01That's right.
SPEAKER_04Here you go, Fred. Thanks, pal.
SPEAKER_01So, Freddy, do you have any idea when this protest is gonna happen? I have my own beef with the Arch and Bow family. I can't get into details now, but it would be great if we could sync up our efforts.
SPEAKER_03Last I heard, it's gonna be three days from now.
SPEAKER_01Is there any chance you could get it moved to tomorrow? I know it's a big ask, but if things go according to plan, I might be able to help you twist the knife.
SPEAKER_03Well, I'm sure the guys will like the sound of that. Let me see what I can do.
SPEAKER_05She closes the door to her office and heads down the hall toward the tower elevator.
SPEAKER_00Ugh, my head is killing me. This week cannot end soon enough. I should probably check on that poor girl before I go. I'll go see her first thing in the morning. Why couldn't those delinquents have just taken the money from the beginning? Now it has to get ugly. Dad's right. With the auction piece out of the picture, the small painting has become much more valuable. Such a shame it has to come to taking it by force.
SPEAKER_05As Colette enters the front lobby, she looks around and notices a still half-full waiting room of anxious and upset visitors waiting to get called.
SPEAKER_00They are not gonna be happy when the front desk announces the office closing in 15 minutes.
SPEAKER_05Just before reaching the elevator, Colette is gently collided into by a teenage boy.
SPEAKER_00Hey, watch where you're going.
SPEAKER_05Colette enters the elevator and takes the long descent down to the underground parking garage. She makes her way down the long line of cars toward her waiting vehicle. After reaching into her purse to find her keys, she realizes that her cell phone is somehow missing.
SPEAKER_00What the hell?
SPEAKER_05Just before Colette turns to head back up and look for her phone, a young man with impeccably styled hair walks out of the elevator and jogs over to her.
SPEAKER_07Ma'am, I think you dropped your phone. The lady at the front desk said that you were likely heading to the garage. She insisted on taking it, but I told her I'd save you the trip back up and run it down to you.
SPEAKER_00Oh, I'm not sure how it fell out of my purse, but thank you.
SPEAKER_07No problem. Have a nice evening.
SPEAKER_03Brothers and sisters, thanks for coming to this emergency meeting. I'm aware that we've already agreed on a date for our demonstration, and I know how much deliberation went into that decision. But it has come to my attention that our voices could ring louder, stronger, with more ferocity, more power, if we can find it in ourselves to move the protest to tomorrow morning. I don't simply propose that we move this date up. I propose that we merely begin our demonstration tomorrow and continue it the next day, and the day after that, and every day forward until we take back this union from the criminals that hold us hostage within it.
SPEAKER_05Coral and Laszlo push open the door to Jem's apartment and wade through the mess into the living room. They quickly straighten up the disorder and power on the giant television.
SPEAKER_01Ugh, it makes me so uncomfortable being here right now.
SPEAKER_06I know, but we've got a job to do. So, have you ever used one of these before?
SPEAKER_01Yeah. Jim has shown me a couple of simple dance games, but I'm a little uncertain of this immersive world exploration thing.
SPEAKER_06It's all good. I'll handle everything as far as controlling the avatar and such. But if they're expecting a female voice, you're gonna have to do the talking.
SPEAKER_01Okay, I can handle that.
SPEAKER_06You are the headset. I'll be able to see everything you're seeing on the monitor. Do you have a plan for getting this code?
SPEAKER_01Well, maybe. I'm gonna rely on this simple-minded moron to use the same sequence of numbers for everything. It's gonna have to be the case, or else we're screwed. Oh my gosh, is that our avatar?
SPEAKER_06Yep. Pretty cool-looking sexy pirate, if you ask me. Your friend has a fun imagination.
SPEAKER_01She has more than just that. She's brilliant and funny and gentle and loving. Jim is a sister to me. This has to work. We need to get her back.
SPEAKER_06All right, entering Pirate World, Buccaneers Barrel. You ready to do this?
SPEAKER_01Ready as I'll ever be a good.