1st Short Story- The Theft (Part I)

This time you've got yourselves a short story and as an added bonus- a great short film 'Steadfast Stanley' too.

Although I like including numerous characters with rich back-story and lots of details but I'll be limiting myself due to the confinements of a short story. So, put your reading glasses on, here it begins-----

The Theft (part-I)

It was night time. Almost past midnight. Joe was walking home. The way was eerie. He exited his office building and just reached the parking lot. There were cars all around. With the big office came the trouble of having a really large parking lot, that too underground where the slightest noise echoed like on solitary mountain peaks. Maybe it was the whimsy of the architect to annoy Joe. Seemingly, Joe was the only person there. Or as he wondered while strolling through the modern marvel of complete blandness. Every wall was the same as the one he passed before when he again wondered, “did they even employ an architect to think this thing through or just made walls as they were in the building beside this one”. The emptiness reminded him he was supposed to cross a guard on his way, but then almost no-one had ever seen him around. Although there were rumours of a 100 year old corpse with an injured hand but Joe knew his colleagues were just trying to make fun of an old man. After 12 hours a day work, who knows what story a tired mind of an office worker can conjure up. Just then, he thought he heard footsteps.

Stu and Piper were there. Carefully following his every move.  Joe almost had no idea of the presence of his unknown companions. He kept on moving at a swift pace. The night was windy. They could hear strong breezes on the outside. It was a hot day of July yet the night was unusually cold. Sounds of water droplets echoed. Some car’s oil was leaking or maybe a tap on some undiscovered corner on an invisible wall was dropping water drops, just in the right rhythm of Joe’s footsteps. A three-eyed crow or maybe a raven caught Joe’s eye. But disappeared into the same nothingness from whence it came just as quickly it appeared.

Joe was moving. Stu and Piper were moving. Clocks were ticking, except Piper’s. He wasn't wearing one. It used to give him nasty marks on the skin.

Stu and Piper were now moving faster, almost running, as to move past Joe. Their intentions were about to become clear. A shot was fired in the air as they both jumped right in front of Joe. Before he could even have the chance to catch a breath and think about running or something else, Stu pointed a gun at him, right in between his eyes. From the look in the eyes of Stu, Joe understood that he’s used it before and enjoyed killing and will not hesitate in pulling the trigger on the smallest move. Piper was standing right next to Stu on the right with a big unshapely rod in the hand. The rod like the one’s from which you hit a guy and he loses all his memories and lives forever with a short term memory loss. Joe thought about the gun in between his eyes, it was a Smith & Wesson 4500 pistol, thug material.

“Gimme all ya money”, exclaimed Stu.

......what will happen to Joe next? Will they leave him alive? Are they all what they seem? And amidst all this, where is the guard? All these questions will be answered and the curtain will be lifted revealing the truth, in the next part of the story. Very soon..........

Pilots

This time it’s about the pilot episodes. These are the first episode of a show. They are generally named ‘pilot’ but can be named anything, the makers find suitable. These are the episodes first screened to the channel people on which the makers are planning the show to be aired and they approve the show for airing based on the pilot.

Now I can recall almost all the pilots I’ve seen in the recent times or maybe of every show I’ve ever watched. If I had to choose my favourite one then it would be difficult to describe.  There are so many good which started out even better or worse. But if it had come to it then I guess I’d place the pilot of House of cards and Fargo at the top. Of course suits, Breaking bad, True Detective, Game of thrones, House MD and Sherlock too had top of the line pilot episodes but then as I said if I had to choose something.

This idea about pilots came to my mind when I recently started watching suits. Must admit, the pilot had me impressed. It showed all what show was offering- style, clever writing, witty references, likable characters and top notch story telling at swift pace.

There are pilots which never really make it to the tv screens, generally because the network drops them after the show getting picked up or the makers feel that they can do better and change the first episode even after completely making one.

Some very popular examples are the pilots of game of thrones, Sherlock and firefly.

Yes, yes we’ve all seen the first episodes, but hey interesting fact- game of thrones first episode actually contained the back story of Starks and Robert’s rebellion but the makers thought of getting rid of the entire back story sequence. They even changed some actors from the pilot to the series. But no complains as the one they did show was also as spectacular as it could be. Bit confusing but enough material to keep fans hooked and eventually develop the biggest fan following than any other show on the planet.

As for Sherlock, they made two episodes on the same story but with just a few events taking place a bit differently. Search for Sherlock’s unaired pilot and you’ll know what I mean. It can be called as a dummy episode for the real pilot but with just few improvements. If they hadn’t thought of perfecting it, then also it would’ve worked just fine.

The story with Firefly is a bit different. It was a show which received undeserving hatred by the fox network on which it aired. They showed the episodes in random sequence rather than in which they were made. But firefly being a unique show with each episode having different themes had little effect of this incoherence. So basically the first episode was intended to be watched sometime later, but anyway we love that show. Fan’s (including me) are still angry over the network for cancelling such a brilliant show so early.

House’s pilot showed what it’s each upcoming episode offered us. House’s mind, tension, and thrill with just overflowing emotions. Fargo’s pilot set the tone for the dark, quirky, and frozen world created by the Coen brothers and very faithfully succeeded by creator Noah Hawley. As for House of Cards, Frank was let down and clearly showed his intentions for the elaborate plan he’d now set in place to acquire his position of power with his perfectly equally conniving wife. And turned out to be a really enjoyable anti-hero.

The pilot which almost ruined it for me was Hannibal. It almost made me not watch the show so greatly focused around the curiosity of Hannibal Lector.

Breaking Bad’s pilot showed equal promise as any other drama show but carefully hiding the fact that its almost nothing as compared to what we’re about to experience as one of the best shows ever made. After the pilot, as the show came up to speed, it got better and better with every passing season. Finally creating history with its last season which undoubtedly will remain the best last season of any series till maybe Game of Thrones come to its conclusion.

True detective’s pilot was very vague and mysterious, just as the show itself which took its time to unfold but in a commendable manner.

Very recent pilot I watched was of Gotham. As the series just premiered, I can’t say it’ll be good or bad but honestly I’m on it just because of batman (which isn’t even there). All in all, it only felt like a mediocre show to me. Nothing much extraordinary there, so I’m a little sceptic about its faith.

Pilot episodes carry a significant amount of responsibility. Finale’s are also important but you’d only watch a show to its season’s end if only you liked the pilot.

 Then there are all so many left- Mad men, Homeland, Dexter and many more. And I haven’t yet started on anime.

So when next time you are intrigued by a show, don’t just make up your mind after the pilot, try watching few more episodes. I know, then you’ll be obliged to watch it whole considering how far you’ve already come so whatever you decide. I’ll give some key things to look for in the pilot- Performances of each actor, method in which they’re introduced, are they being too mysterious or too smart or obvious for the character and after all how they ended the first episode. The impression it leaves on you should be lasting. Making you hungry for more. 

In the day, the writer only thinks of informational stuff. At night, he's too lazy to get up from bed when inspiration strikes.